Borner, Tito
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
The whole of his research career focuses on deepening our understanding of how nerve cells control food intake under both normal physiological conditions and when conditions go awry, such as when disease sets in. His overarching research goal is to investigate and identify the components and pathways within the central nervous system that mediate anorexia (loss of appetite), nausea, vomiting (emesis), and weight loss in pre-clinical models. This exploration focuses on understanding how these symptoms manifests after various diseases and, importantly, how they can be prevented, which special emphasis on chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes.
Borzage, Matthew
We focus on innovative imaging-based tools to understand the brain’s vascular, hemodynamic, and metabolic conditions across the lifespan. This physiology is essential to provide adequate nutrients and remove the metabolic byproducts of the brain. Without intact physiology, brain health suffers from early maturation throughout brain aging. Our studies investigate diseases and therapeutics that impair the ability of the brain to adequately supply itself with blood and metabolites, or that inhibit its ability to remove metabolic byproducts. We collaborate with studies and trials seeking interventions that could protect or restore this essential physiology.
Braskie, Meredith
Assistant Professor of Neurology
We use neuroimaging, fluid biomarkers, environmental and genetic risk factors, and comorbidities to better understand Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk - particularly the mechanisms underlying earliest brain characteristics that may signal or contribute to future cognitive decline. I am especially interested in the contributions of vascular, metabolic, and inflammatory risk to AD-relevant brain measures in older adults. I am also interested in disease heterogeneity and how it relates to health disparities and sex differences.
Cortes, Constanza
Assistant Professor of Gerontology
We investigate the mechanisms of exercise-associated neuroprotection in the context of aging and Alzheimer's disease. We utilize transgenic exercice-mimetic transgenic mice in combination with running interventions to isolate and prioritize novel 'exerkines' to move into pre-clinical trials. We are also building an 'exercise atlas' of the brain across the lifespan, with the ultimate goal of developing exercise in a pill as a novel intervention for Alzheimer's disease
Dickman, Dion
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Synaptic development, function, and plasticity in Drosophila.
Eagleson, Kathie
Associate Professor of Research Pediatrics and Neurology
Research projects investigate the development of brain architecture that controls social-emotional behavior and learning, and how early life experiences impact neurodevelopment. Genetic and environmental factors that regulate circuit and synapse formation are studied at the molecular and circuit level, using single cell and bulk RNA sequencing, viral circuit tracing, and multiplex in-situ hybridization. Preclinical mouse models use exposure to early adverse experiences to study age- and sex- specific mitochondrial adaptations that impact the emergence of cognitive, social and emotional behaviors across the lifespan.
