We are interested in understanding at a cellular level the neural control of energy balance and glucose metabolism, and elucidating how these events may participate in human disease.

We investigate the mechanism of neurotransmitter release using a variety of biophysical approaches, including NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, molecular dynamics simulations and liposome fusion assays.

The Pool Lab studies neural circuits that provide a sense of purpose and direction to animal behavior and develops targeted gene therapies to re-engineer their function.

We develop the theory and application of deep learning to improve diagnoses, prognoses and therapy decision making.

The N-LAB's mission is to develop novel neuroimaging and neuroengineering methods to integrate molecular and system neuroscience and solve brain science problems.

We are interested in understanding how animals process both external and internal sensory information to interact appropriately with their environment.

The autonomic nervous system comprises a network of sensory and motor neurons that connect the brainstem and spinal cord to thoracic and abdominal organs. A better understanding of the anatomical and functional plasticity of the autonomic nervous system will likely move forward our understanding of numerous chronic diseases including, but not limited to, obesity, diabetes, visceral pain, neuropathy, and eating disorders.

The Elmquist laboratory uses mouse genetics to identify circuits in the nervous system that regulate energy balance and glucose homeostasis. We have developed unique mouse models allowing neuron-specific manipulation of genes regulating these processes.

The central goal of the Dauer Lab is to unravel the molecular and cellular mechanisms of diseases that disrupt the motor system. In exploring these diseases, we also aim to understand a fundamental question relevant to CNS disease generally: what factors determine the selective vulnerability of particular cell types or circuits to insults? Our primary focus is on Parkinson’s disease and inherited forms of dystonia. We focus our efforts on disease genes that cause these disorders, employing a range of molecular, cellular, and whole animal studies to dissect the normal role of disease proteins, and how pathogenic mutations lead to disease.

Yu Lab is interested in the molecular and cellular basis of Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, and related neurodegenerative disorders.