معرفی
Gerald Downes is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he leads the Downes Laboratory. His research focuses on the genetic and neural mechanisms underlying motor behavior and epilepsy, utilizing zebrafish as a model organism. He earned his Ph.D. from Washington University, St. Louis, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Education: B.S. from Johnson C. Smith University (1992), Ph.D. from Washington University, St. Louis (1999), Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania (1999–2005).
Downes’s research integrates genetics, microscopic imaging, and behavioral analysis to study neural networks in zebrafish. His lab has established high-throughput platforms for epilepsy research and therapeutic development, including the open-source web app Marigold for behavioral analysis. Recent work includes collaborations on environmental neurotoxins linked to ALS.
His lab has received grants such as the TBCK Foundation Pilot Grant (2024) and has mentored students including Wayne (Ph.D.), Colin, Gregory, Madison, and others. The lab’s publications span topics like genetic compensation in zebrafish mutants and neurotoxin effects on motor neurons.
- Scientific Awards: TBCK Foundation Pilot Grant (2024).
The Downes Laboratory actively trains students and collaborates with institutions like Wesleyan University. Current projects focus on modeling genetic epilepsies and identifying novel therapeutics through zebrafish studies.
