Pallavi Gopal

Pallavi Gopal, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Pathology at Yale School of Medicine, with a secondary appointment as Assistant Professor in Neurology. Her research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), exploring mechanisms of TDP-43 proteinopathies and RNA transport.

• Medical Scientist Training Program, UPenn (MD/PhD, 2009)
• Residency: Anatomic Pathology, Hospital of UPenn (2012)
• Fellowship: Neuropathology, Hospital of UPenn (2014)
• Postdoctoral Training: Erika Holzbaur Lab, UPenn

Her lab investigates mRNA regulation in neurons, aiming to identify therapeutic targets for ALS, FTD, and Alzheimer’s disease. Key methodologies include ribonucleoprotein condensate analysis and TDP-43 aggregation studies. Recent work (2025) examines TDP-43 microvasculopathy in Alzheimer’s and COVID-19 contexts.

Scientific awards include the prestigious NINDS Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award. Collaborative efforts span Yale’s Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Center for RNA Science and Medicine, and Molecular Medicine initiatives.