Faculty
Research Faculty—Neuroscience Program
Neuroscience Program
- Marie Bechler, PhD
Assistant ProfessorResearch Interests:Mechanisms that drive central nervous system myelin sheath formation, and how myelin contributes to CNS function in neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disease
- Karen Boschen, PhD
Assistant ProfessorResearch Interests:Developmental neurobiology
Molecular mechanisms of prenatal alcohol exposure
Genetics and epigenetics in prenatal drug sensitivity
Mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders
- Peter Calvert, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:Molecular mechanisms of protein transport and localization in retinal neurons; mechanisms of retinal degenerative diseases
- Tinatin Chabrashvili, MD, PhD
Professor - Stephen Glatt, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:Dr. Glatt is Director of the Psychiatric Genetic Epidemiology & Neurobiology Laboratory (PsychGENe Lab). The mission of the PsychGENe Lab is to develop and apply methods for finding the causes of mental health and mental illness. The vision of the lab is that we will discover those causes and use that information to design interventions that treat or prevent these disorders, or foster resilience to them. We are running numerous research projects aimed at finding the genes and environmental risk factors for a wide variety of disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and substance abuse disorders, among others. Our pipeline seeks to identify “risk genes” for these disorders by studying affected individuals and families and then to reveal how such genes alter brain biology leading to a vulnerability to mental illness.
Stephen Glatt, PhD CV - Jonathan Hess, PhD
Assistant ProfessorResearch Interests:I direct a computational neuro-genomics laboratory, focused on pioneering and using innovative methods to discover genes and pathways that play a pivotal role in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. Our goal is to identify genes contributing to susceptibility to disease, along with identifying factors of resilience that act as moderators against disease risk. Towards this goal, our lab developed the Brain Gene Expression and Network Imputation Engine (BrainGENIE) to allow researchers to noninvasively profile gene activity in the brain of living individuals based on gene activity measured in blood. Our BrainGENIE method, which is available as an open-source tool (https://github.com/hessJ/BrainGENIE), endeavors to fill a critical knowledge gap by providing a means to gain insight into molecular intricacies of the living human brain. Its primary aim is to identify and track molecular changes linked with brain health and disease, aging, as well as interventions. My lab was founded on three guiding principles: Our Mission (“We will decode the biological basis of risk and resilience for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.”), Our Vision (“Our scientific discoveries will provide a path toward reducing the burden of brain disease and achieving health equity.”), and Our Values (“We are at the forefront of scientific advancement, hence it is our responsibility to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accuracy, reliability, and transparency in our work. We conduct ourselves professionally with honesty and fairness. We treat others with courtesy, respect, and dignity.”).
- Brian Howell, PhD
Associate ProfessorResearch Interests:The signal transduction events that regulate the functional organization of neurons in the brain, and the phenotypes caused by defects in the genes that encode these signaling molecules.
- Huaiyu Hu, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:Mechanisms of brain malformations and retinal degeneration.
- Barry Knox, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:Visual transduction, Gene Expression, Membrane proteins
- Hui-Hao Lin, PhD
Assistant ProfessorResearch Interests:Neural circuit mechanisms of feeding regulation in Drosophila
- Chunyu Liu, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:Dr. Liu’s laboratory is studying how genetic variants impact gene expression, protein abundance and various levels of regulatory networks, ultimate influence the risks of developing major psychiatric disorders, treatment responses, as well as related psychological, behavioral traits. Funded by NIH, his current projects are about regulatory networks in genomics, epigenomics, and proteomics of postmortem brains. Multiple advanced sequencing-based technologies, cell biology and bioinformatics methods are commonly used in this lab to facilitate discovery of risk genes and pathways.
Chunyu Liu , PhD CV - Russell Matthews, PhD
Associate ProfessorResearch Interests:Role of glycoproteins in oncogenesis and brain development
- Frank Middleton, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:- Genetic, epigenetic, and neuroanatomical basis of neurological and psychiatric disorders
- Basal ganglia and cerebellar circuitry in normal and disease states
- Neural-immune and gut-brain interactions
- Machine learning approaches for biomarker discovery
- Next generation sequencing for multiomic data analysis (genome, transcriptome, microbiome, methylome)
- Eric Olson, PhD
Associate ProfessorResearch Interests:Cellular and molecular mechanisms of cerebral cortex development.
Lissencephaly / neuronal migration disorders; Dendritogenesis and early cortical wiring; Reelin-Dab1 signaling; Adaptor proteins; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Intellectual disability
- Francesca Pignoni, PhD
Professor and ChairResearch Interests:Neurogenesis; Retinal Progenitor Cells Specification and Proliferation; Genetic Control of Stem Cell Identity and Maintenance; Disease Genes Analysis in Drosophila
- Daniel Tso, PhD
Associate ProfessorResearch Interests:Neuronal mechanisms of visual perception, studied through physiological, anatomical and functional imaging techniques. Adult cortical plasticity.
- Mary Lou Vallano, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:Neuronal survival and development.
- Mariano Viapiano, PhD
Associate ProfessorResearch Interests:Brain cancer therapies; tumor microenvironment; tumor invasion; extracellular matrix; nano-therapeutics; immunotherapies
- Andrea Viczian, PhD
Associate ProfessorResearch Interests:Mammalian retinal stem cells formation; molecular mechanism of retinal cell fate decisions; vascular development in the CNS; using cell replacement therapy to heal the blinded eye.
- Cynthia Weickert, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:I research the Neurobiology of Mental Illness with a focus on Schizophrenia. My research also involves projects on Primate Neurogenesis, Neuroinflammation, and Molecular Human Brain Development.
- Thomas Weickert, PhD
Sr. Research ScientistResearch Interests:Our Clinical Research Laboratory uses molecular neurobiological findings to guide our research using brain stimulation techniques and the novel application of existing medications as add-on therapy to antipsychotics to improve thinking ability and reduce symptom severity in people with schizophrenia.
- Ma-Li Wong, MD, PhD
Distinguished ProfessorResearch Interests:The long-term goals of Dr. Wong's research are to develop a translational research program that spans the bench and the clinic to understand the molecular, cellular and circuit bases of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, particularly those comorbid with metabolic disorders. Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic consequences of obesity are associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety and dementia. The ongoing focus on Dr. Wong's lab include: Characterization of novel biomarkers in major depression and the role of specific genes or pathways in depression, including the inflammasome signaling, epigenetic markers, alternative splicing, and the gut microbiome.
We have 4 current projects:
1) To determine the specific role(s) of PHF21B (plant homeodomain finger protein 21B) in neuronal function relevant to social recognition impairment; this is relevant because social cognitive impairments are a central feature of several neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental (e.g., autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) conditions, and also occur following acute brain damage after traumatic brain injury and stroke.
2) A innovative research line focused on investigating the interface between neuroinflammation and serotonin signaling in chronic stress.
3) A line of research focusing on the role of pre-mRNA splicing in the pathophysiology of chronic stress.
4) A line of research focused on the role of alternative splicing in the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and aging.
- Li-Ru Zhao, PhD
ProfessorResearch Interests:Brain plasticity; molecular, cellular and functional mechanisms of brain repair in traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and CADASIL. Pathological mechanisms underlying the development and progression of brain injury, neurodegenerative and genetic diseases.
- Sijun Zhu, MD, PhD
Associate ProfessorResearch Interests:Genetic mechanisms of Drosophila neural stem cell specification and sub-cellular specific targeting of dendrites.
- Michael Zuber, PhD
Associate ProfessorResearch Interests:The molecular basis of retinal stem cell formation; regulating retinal stem/progenitor cell proliferation; using retinal stem/progenitor cells to heal the injured or degenerating retina.
Neuroscience and Physiology
- David Auerbach, PhD
Assistant ProfessorResearch Interests:Cellular, animal, and clinical approaches to investigate the susceptibility and mechanisms for electrical disturbances in both the brain (seizures) and heart (arrhythmias.)
CURE Epilepsy Foundation: The Cameron Boyce Foundation and CURE Epilepsy Partner to Fund New SUDEP Research (1/2022)
ABC News (Washington, DC): Victor and Libby Boyce raise epilepsy awareness in honor of late son Cameron (1/2022)
Upstate News: Upstate Professor Auerbach receives International CURE Epilepsy award (11/2021)
Upstate Health Link on Air and Upstate News: Scientist hopes study of electrical disturbances in the heart and brain could lead to new therapies (7/2020)
Pediheart Podcast # 5: Antiseizure and AntiDepressants in LQTS (2/23/18)
Eureka Alert: The heart-brain connection: The link between LQTS and seizures (7/29/16)
- Karen Boschen, PhD
Assistant ProfessorResearch Interests:Developmental neurobiology
Molecular mechanisms of prenatal alcohol exposure
Genetics and epigenetics in prenatal drug sensitivity
Mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders
- Markus Lammle, MD, PhD
Associate Professor - Hui-Hao Lin, PhD
Assistant ProfessorResearch Interests:Neural circuit mechanisms of feeding regulation in Drosophila
- Francesca Pignoni, PhD
Professor and ChairResearch Interests:Neurogenesis; Retinal Progenitor Cells Specification and Proliferation; Genetic Control of Stem Cell Identity and Maintenance; Disease Genes Analysis in Drosophila
- Ma-Li Wong, MD, PhD
Distinguished ProfessorResearch Interests:The long-term goals of Dr. Wong's research are to develop a translational research program that spans the bench and the clinic to understand the molecular, cellular and circuit bases of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, particularly those comorbid with metabolic disorders. Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic consequences of obesity are associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety and dementia. The ongoing focus on Dr. Wong's lab include: Characterization of novel biomarkers in major depression and the role of specific genes or pathways in depression, including the inflammasome signaling, epigenetic markers, alternative splicing, and the gut microbiome.
We have 4 current projects:
1) To determine the specific role(s) of PHF21B (plant homeodomain finger protein 21B) in neuronal function relevant to social recognition impairment; this is relevant because social cognitive impairments are a central feature of several neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental (e.g., autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) conditions, and also occur following acute brain damage after traumatic brain injury and stroke.
2) A innovative research line focused on investigating the interface between neuroinflammation and serotonin signaling in chronic stress.
3) A line of research focusing on the role of pre-mRNA splicing in the pathophysiology of chronic stress.
4) A line of research focused on the role of alternative splicing in the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and aging.