Sandra Encalada

Sandra Encalada, PhD, is the Arlene and Arnold Goldstein Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), with a joint appointment in the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences and the Dorris Neuroscience Center. Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms of intracellular transport and neurodegeneration, particularly in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, and prion disorders. She uses C. elegans, mammalian neurons, and mouse models to study axonal transport of vesicles and organelles, linking transport defects to protein aggregation and neurodegenerative pathology.

Dr. Encalada holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Oregon (2003), an MS in Population Genetics from the University of Florida (1995), and a B.A. in Physics from Earlham College (1992). Her career includes postdoctoral training at UC San Diego and prior roles as an Assistant Professor at TSRI. She has received prestigious awards, including the Ellison Medical Foundation New Scholar Award and the Baxter Foundation Young Faculty Award.

• Research Themes: Axonal transport, neurodegeneration, prion diseases, autophagy, tauopathies, and C. elegans modeling.
• Key Techniques: High-resolution microscopy, genetics, biochemistry, and quantitative imaging.
• Lab Culture: Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a focus on translational research.

Her lab develops small molecule therapeutics targeting neurodegenerative mechanisms and investigates viral contributions to neurodegenerative processes. Funding sources include the Goldstein Foundation and the Ellison Medical Foundation.