Lucas Martin Cheadle

Lucas Martin Cheadle is an Associate Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar. His research bridges neuroimmunology and brain development, focusing on how microglia and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) interact with neurons to shape neural circuits. Cheadle's work has significant implications for neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism) and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's).

• Education: B.A. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Smith College and Yale University, respectively; postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School
• Awards: MIND Prize (2025), HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar (2023), Rita Allen Scholar Award (2021), NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (2022)

Cheadle employs two-photon microscopy, single-cell genomics, and transgenic mouse models to dissect how environmental cues influence microglial and OPC functions. His recent work explores synapse protection mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease, proposing novel therapeutic strategies targeting non-neuronal cells. This aligns with his broader vision of integrating immune system dynamics into fundamental neuroscience. Cheadle actively promotes diversity and inclusion in science, both through lab initiatives and collaborations with the Chickasaw Nation.