Ruby Lam

Ruby Lam is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying sensory perception, particularly the role of PIEZO2 ion channels in mechanotransduction, pain pathways, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as Rett Syndrome. She employs human pluripotent stem cells and mouse models to investigate how sensory neurons process mechanical stimuli and contribute to physiological functions like gastrointestinal transit and sexual health.

Lam’s work bridges neuroscience and biophysics, addressing questions in mechanosensation, synaptic connectivity, and neuroendocrine regulation. Her studies highlight the integration of transcriptomics, in situ hybridization, and machine learning to classify sensory neuron subtypes and decode their functional roles. She also explores how environmental enrichment impacts neural circuitry in disease models, emphasizing translational applications for pain management and neurological disorders.

Her research group collaborates across disciplines, leveraging cutting-edge tools in stem cell engineering and high-throughput screening to uncover novel therapeutic targets. Current projects include developing cell-based models to study mechanosensory discrimination and exploring the interplay between noradrenaline signaling and brain-body communication in health and disease.