Jaeda Coutinho-Budd

Jaeda Coutinho-Budd is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where she leads the Coutinho-Budd Lab focused on glial cell biology. Her research examines neuron-glia and glial-glial interactions throughout development and disease, with particular emphasis on glial functions at neuronal cell bodies—a significantly understudied area compared to synaptic regions.

Her primary research interests center on glial development and function within the nervous system. The lab investigates how glia support nearly all neuronal activities, with specific focus on: cellular and molecular mechanisms of glial-glial tiling, Draper-mediated phagocytic pathways, neurotrophin signaling in glial morphogenesis, and the role of innate immunity in developmental pruning. Current work utilizes Drosophila as a model system to unravel conserved mechanisms relevant to human neurological disorders.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent Drosophila-based approach to studying glial biology, with strong emphasis on image analysis techniques, genetic manipulation, and quantitative assessment of cellular interactions. Her work bridges developmental neurobiology, cell biology, and immunology, demonstrating how glial dysfunction may contribute to disease pathogenesis through disrupted cellular organization and communication.

The Coutinho-Budd Lab actively trains researchers in advanced microscopy, genetic techniques, and computational analysis of neural development. While no specific grants are listed in the provided text, her research program clearly integrates molecular genetics, live imaging, and behavioral analysis to address fundamental questions in glial biology.