Benayoun, Bérénice
Associate Professor of Gerontology, Cancer Biology, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
My lab explores understudied influences (e.g. biological sex and reproductive status) on gene regulation across key biological systems, with a particular interest in the aging brain and innate immunity (e.g. neutrophils, macrophages, microglia). Sex-dimorphic processes can have a major and lasting influence on somatic health, yet, this exciting question is still dramatically understudied, with few studies looking at the influence of biological sex as a focal point of interest, thus ignoring a major contributor to health disparities in human populations.
Boato, Francesco
The Functional Repair and Axonogenesis (FRA) lab investigates how the central nervous system (CNS) is wired during development and how these pathways can be reactivated and modulated to promote repair after injury, particularly in the spinal cord and optic nerve. We study growth pathways, axon guidance cues, and neuron-glia interactions that shape connectivity in the CNS. By combining genetic, molecular, behavioral and advanced imaging approaches, we examine neuronal migration, synaptogenesis, and responses to injury. Our goal is to uncover fundamental mechanisms that can be leveraged to drive regeneration, circuit formation and functional recovery in neurological disorders. Trainees will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and will gain experience at the interface of developmental neurobiology and CNS regeneration.
Bonaguidi, Michael
Associate Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
Cognitive impairment (CI) is a burdensome neurological condition that occurs during aging, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and is a common co-morbidity in many neurodegenerative diseases, including epilepsy. Unfortunately, CI prevalence continues to accelerate due to population aging and emerging therapies only slows CI by a few months. Our research seeks to develop regenerative medicine and provide longer-lasting benefits to CI through brain restoration. We are establishing endogenous brain regeneration as a therapeutic approach for CI in pre-clinical animals and people by (1) investigating neural stem cell behavior in aging, AD and epilepsy, (2) developing computational/AI drug discovery tools for precision medicine to treat CI, and (3) partnering with physicians for human research and clinical trials to translate our findings.
Chang, Karen T.
Associate Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience
Our lab is interested in understanding how neurons communicate with high fidelity to support complex brain functions. We aim to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that enable precise synaptic signaling and to explore how disruptions in these processes contribute to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a genetically tractable model system, we integrate electrophysiology, molecular biology, confocal imaging, proteomics, and behavioral analysis to investigate synaptic function and plasticity.
Chen, George
The Chen Lab at Children's Hospital Los Angeles integrates functional genomics, bioinformatics, and basic neuroscience to advance our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorder pathogenesis and to accelerate treatment development.
Chen, Jeannie
Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience
The major focus of my laboratory is to study sensory neuron signaling and mechanisms of retinal degeneration and neurodegeneration using cell culture and rodent models. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we deciphered basic mechanisms of sensory neuron signal transduction and disease pathogenesis in retinal degeneration and neurodegeneration where protein mis-folding and aggregation is an underlying cause of disease.
