 Lynne Bernstein, PhD Dr. Bernstein's research centers on perception, neural processing, and training of unisensory and multisensory speech stimuli in individuals with normal and with impaired hearing. She applies a wide range of methods, including behavioral, computational, and neuroimaging. Participants in experiments have included individuals with a range of hearing losses of various etiologies, including congenital profound hearing loss and acquired central auditory processing disorders. The participants with hearing loss have used a multiple modalities for communication, including lipreading, hearing aids, sign language, and/or cochlear implants. Dr. Bernstein's experience in science also includes five years at the US National Science Foundation as the Program Director for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program. That position afforded her the opportunity to gain an extensive understanding of the details and breadth of current cognitive neuroscience research. Presently, Dr. Bernstein has several research projects. One concerns developing training methods for improving lipreading; another concerns developing methods to assess and understand the underlying disorder/s in adults with normal hearing but excessive difficulty perceiving speech in background noise; a third focuses on perceptual learning of vibrotactile stimuli; and the fourth on the visual pathway's role in visual speech perception. Rome Hall 550 |
 L. Bernstein's laboratory |
 Anne Chiaramello, PhD Dr. Chiaramello's laboratory studies molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial biogenesis and bioenergetics regulating neuronal differentiation and survival. Dr. Chiaramello's laboratory focuses on the following research projects:
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 Matt Colonnese, PhD Dr. Colonnese's lab asks how do we develop the ability to actively explore and perceive our sensory environment? Such perception does not result simply from brain activity driven by the external world, but by its collision with activity generated internally. The lab is determining what processes drive the developmental initiation of this internal activity at the cellular, network and metabolic levels using a host of electrophysiological and imaging techniques in vivo in rats and mice. Ross Hall 639 |
 M. Colonnese laboratory |
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 Joshua Corbin, PhD Dr. Corbin's laboratory studies the genetic and cellular processes that govern normal development of the amygdala, as well as the underlying defects in these processes that occur during developmental disorders, with a specific focus on autism and autism spectrum disorders. To accomplish these goals, we use a combination of modern tools of mouse genetics in animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Children's National Health System |
 Migrating forebrain interneurons: J. Corbin laboratory |
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 William D. Gaillard, MD Dr. Gaillard's laboratory uses advanced structural and functional imaging to examine the effects of neurological disease and developmental disorders, primarily epilepsy, on brain structure and function. Our work has direct clinical implications in planning epilepsy surgery and we explore the neural underpinnings of brain plasticity. Children's National Health System |
 Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of a cognitive task: W. Gaillard's laboratory |
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 Vittorio Gallo, PhD Dr. Gallo's laboratory studies neural progenitor development as well as the response to injury in the immature and adult brain. The lab focuses on questions of oligodendrocyte development and myelination, as well as Neuron-glia communication in the CNS during development and after injury. Children's National Health System |
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 Taha Gholipour, MD Dr. Gholipour's laboratory (https://smhs.gwu.edu/gholipour-lab/) conduct patient-oriented translational research in that involves neuroimaging and electrophysiology, and machine learning methods. Structural and functional images from patients with epilepsy such as clinical MRI, fMRI, and PET are investigated . The goals are to identify brain networks and develop biomarkers to better understand the initiation, propagation, and termination of seizures, and to improve the treatment outcomes. The laboratory is partially supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Children's National (CTSI-CN). Other than the GWU Epilepsy Center in Wasshington, DC, the laboratory works closely with Children's National Hospital Epilepsy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and other national and international collaborators in the field of epilepsy. George Washington University-MFA |
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 Andrea Gropman, MD Dr. Gropman's laboratory uses advanced neuroimaging in human subjects and animal models such as fMRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and 1H magnetic resonance imaging (MRS) to study biomarkers of neurological injury in inborn errors of metabolism including urea cycle disorders, mitochondrial disorders and phenylketonuria (PKU). Dr. Gropman is also the director of the neurogenetics program at CNMC where patients with rare disorders and undiagnosed conditions are seen. Department phone: (202) 476-2120 |
 Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the human brain: A. Gropman's laboratory |
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 Kazue Hashimoto-Torii, PhD The goal of Hashimoto-Torii laboratory is to understand how an adverse prenatal environment interacts with genetic predisposition, thereby increasing disease susceptibility after birth. We focus on the cerebral cortex, and tackle this fundamental question using in vivo gene transfer, generation and analysis of transgenic mice, and single-cell RNA sequencing and Copy Number Variation analysis of patient-derived iPS cells and fetal brain tissue. Our approach includes manipulation of candidate molecules and genes identified by analyses of human samples as well as in vivo in mouse models to examine their roles in the pathological development of the cerebral cortex. Children's National Health System |
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 Henry Kaminski, MD Dr. Kaminski is a neurologist who specializes in therapeutic development for the autoimmune, neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis. He has performed clinical and basic investigations related to myasthenia gravis for the last 20 years. His laboratory has pioneered development of complement based therapeutics in collaboration with industry as well as his own intellectual property. He is working closely with Linda Kusner, his colleague of many years, exploring the mechanistic links between maintenance of neoplastic cells and autoreactive cells in myasthenia gravis. He and colleagues in China are investigating IL-17 mechanisms that modulate myasthenia with an eye on inhibition of IL-17 to moderate disease severity. He is part of the executive committee of the NIH-funded study of thymectomy for treatment of myasthenia gravis and directs the supplemental study Biomarkers for Myasthenia Gravis. On the clinical research side, he was part of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Task Force which established standards for performance of clinical trials in myasthenia gravis, which have now been internationally accepted and he also was part of the committee that updated these standards this year. He is a member of the NINDS Common Data Element Committee for neuromuscular disorders and myasthenia gravis. Medical Faculty Associates |
 H. Kaminski's laboratory |
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 Mohamad Z. Koubeissi, MD The goal of my research is to develop new interventions to treat pharmacoresistant seizures without respective surgery. This aims at performing less invasive surgical interventions and at preserving eloquent cortical function. For example, epileptogenic regions in temporal lobe epilepsy often include the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory. We have assessed the efficacy and tolerability low frequency electrical stimulation of a white matter tract that is connected to the hippocampus in animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy, which has led to a proof-of-principle trial in humans, and more extensive clinical trials are currently being conducted. Another current project in our lab aims at assessing the role of the claustrum in consciousness, which may lead to studying the effects of claustrum stimulation on origination and progression of seizures. George Washington University-MFA |
 Locations of the fornix and hippocampal electrodes and the hippocampal evoked response elicited by stimulation of the fornix |
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 Dwight Kravitz, PhD A key goal of cognitive neuroscience is to understand the relationship between neuroanatomy (i.e. connectivity and local circuitry), experience, and neural representations. I study this relationship in using many techniques with an emphasis on human fMRI and behavior. I utilize a data-driven approach paired with many conditions allowing for the data-driven quantification of the structure of neural representations. I apply this approach in a number of domains including visual object recognition, the representation of words, concepts, and scenes, mental imagery, and working memory. I also study patient populations with deficits in these processes resulting from either brain damage or disorder (e.g. autism). Ultimately, achieving convergence between data gained from studying animals, humans, and patient populations with a variety of methods is the only way to overcome the inherent limitations of any method of studying the brain of living, behaving organisms. 2125 G St NW, 206 |
 D. Kravitz's laboratory |
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 Linda L. Kusner, PhD Dr. Kusner's laboratory studies the neuromascular junction. The main focus is on myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that targets the neuromascular junction, specifically the acetylcholoine receptor. Dr. Kusner has studied the influence that the complement regulators (CD59 and DAF) have on the induction of the disease. The laboratory is using the knowledge of the complement system and the strides made in the immune system development of the autoimmune producing B cells to find novel targets to ablate the disease. The laboratory utilizes the rodent models of myasthenia gravis to corroborate their targeted therapeutic. The goal of the laboratory is to develop therapeutics which will be successful in human trials of myasthenia gravis and perhaps other autoimmune diseases. Ross Hall 723/725 |
 L. Kusner's laboratory |
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 Norman Lee, PhD Dr. Lee's laboratory focuses on the application of molecular, genomics, and computational approaches to elucidate genetic networks and pathways underlying behavioral traits, such as i.v. self-administration and tolerance of additive substances including nicotine and other drugs of abuse in inbred mouse strains. Methodologies have been developed to validate causal links between candidate genes and behavior by exploiting lentivirus-containing shRNAs delivered in vivo to specific brain regions of inbred strains. Ross Hall 603 |
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 Hui Lu, PhD Lu lab is interested in understanding the bidirectional link between physiological changes in neural circuitry and behaviors. We use the tools of in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, optogenetics, mouse genetics, computational analyses and machine learning approaches to characterize neural circuit coding of mouse behavior and understand the dysfunction of neural circuits in mouse models of human diseases. Ross Hall, Room 705 |
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 Paul Marvar, PhD Dr. Marvar’s research is focused on understanding the link between stress and anxiety disorders (i.e. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD) and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The laboratory specializes in utilizing multi-disciplinary approaches that combines integrated physiological, molecular, analytical and behavioral neuroscience tools to examine neuroendocrine (i.e. renin angiotensin system), autonomic nervous system and inflammatory pathways in PTSD related CVD. The basic science pre- clinical research funding is complimented by translational clinical research funding focused on identifying new therapeutic targets and opportunities for treatment for PTSD and co-morbid CVD. Ross Hall 457 |
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 Thomas Maynard, PhD Dr. Maynard's work focuses on the role of cell-cell signaling during neural development, and how signaling is disrupted by genetic disorders that alter chromosomal dosage. He is currently examining mouse models of 22q11 deletion syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with psychiatric diseases, to identify how this genomic lesion alters development and function of cortical circuitry. Dr. Maynard is also the Director of the Biomarkers Discovery Core, a core facility that provides support for molecular and cell biological analysis of gene function in the developing and adult nervous system. Ross Hall 634A |
 Cortical synapses labeled for a novel mitochondrial protein: T. Maynard's laboratory |
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 David Mendelowitz, PhD The Mendelowitz lab is focused on how the autonomic nervous system, and particularly specific populations of neurons in the brainstem, control heart rate, airway resistance, and other essential cardiorespiratory functions. In addition to understanding the role of these neurons in normal physiology, we also seek to determine how these neurons and networks are altered to initiate and/or sustain cardiorespiratory diseases, particularly in the prevalent cardiovascular diseases obstructive sleep apnea and heart failure. Our overarching goal is to identify novel targets of opportunity for treating these diseases. Ross Hall 654 |
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 Robert Miller, PhD Dr. Miller has a primary interest in CNS neural development with a focus on understanding the biology of neural diseases including Multiple Sclerosis, Brain tumors and Cerebral Palsy. Dr. Miller's development research has focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate glial cell determination in the developing vertebrate CNS. Ross Hall 709G |
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 Stephen Mitroff, PhD Dr. Mitroff’s lab examines the nature of visual cognition—examining mechanisms of visual memory, perception, and attention. They have a current primary focus on individual differences to reveal how it is that some people can outperform others, how to quickly identify the best performers, and how to then train those individuals to make them even better. A primary area of emphasis for the lab is visual search—how target items are found among distractors—and they work with a variety of groups (e.g., professional airport security officers and radiologists) and techniques (e.g., using “big data” from a smartphone app) to inform both academic theory and applied questions. 2125 G St NW, 304 |
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 Sally Moody, PhD Dr. Moody's laboratory studies two aspects of neural developmental gene regulatory networks: (1) molecular mechanisms by which FoxD5, a forkhead/winged helix transcription factor, regulates other neural genes to control the transition from an immature to a pre-differentiation state in the neural plate; and (2) novel co-factors and down-stream targets of the Six1 transcription factor, a key regulatory gene that specifies placode-derived sensory structures of the vertebrate head. This information is being used to discover new genes involved in neural tube and craniofacial birth defects. Ross Hall 207 |
 Molecularly distinct retinal neurons: |
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 Damien O'Halloran, PhD The O'Halloran lab is interested in understanding the cellular mechanisms that shape sensory behavior; we are also interested in how sodium calcium exchangers influence neuronal development. We use the model system C.elegans to probe these lines of inquiry. Ross Hall 636 |
 Model of NCX-1 from C. elegans and an NCX-3 ortholog from A. suum |
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 Anna Penn, MD PhD Anna Penn, MD, PhD, is a clinical neonatologist and developmental neuroscientist at Children's National Health System. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, with additional appointments in the Division of Neonatology and the Center for Neuroscience Research. In addition, she is the director of translational research in the Center for Hospital Based Specialties. Dr. Penn conducts translational work aimed at understanding and ameliorating preterm brain injury. Specifically, she studies the role of placental function in fetal brain development and damage, with the goal of developing new therapeutic agents to protect the brain in sick newborns. Email:apenn@childrensnational.org |
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 Kenna Peusner, PhD Dr. Peussner's laboratory focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanism operating during recovery of function in vestibular nuclei neurons after peripheral vestibular lesions using the hatchling chicken model. The laboratory also focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanism operating during central vestibular system development, and the possible link between reexpression of developmental mechanisms after lesions to the adults system. Ross Hall 209 |
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 Abigail M. Polter, PhD The goal of the lab is to understand the circuit and synaptic-level effects of stress and adversity. We are particularly interested in how factors such as age and sex affect neurobiological and behavioral responses to stress. We use electrophysiology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and mouse behavioral assays to characterize the mechanisms of these changes, with a focus on synaptic regulation of monoaminergic circuits. Ross Hall, Room 727C |
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 Anastas Popratiloff, MD, PhD Dr. Popratiloff's work focuses on neuronal and synaptic organization in normal brain structures and during adaptive plasticity after injury. In conjunction with his role as director of the Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis at GW SMHSMC, he utilizes microscopic imaging and image analysis in his work on synaptic organization and neuronal plasticity. Ross Hall 215 |
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 Lawrence A. Rothblat, PhD Dr. Rothblat's laboratory is using genetically engineered mice to investigate the basis of cognitive impairment in neurodegenerative (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) and neuropsychiatric (autism and schizophrenia) disorders. 2125 G St NW |
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 Sarah Shomstein, PhD Dr. Shomstein's laboratory focuses on elucidating the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying attentional selection. Research in the laboratory employs multiple methodologies including behavioral paradigms, eye tracking, and functional neuroimaging in normal individuals as well as in individual with attentional deficits following brain damage. 2125 G St NW, 309 |
 Distinct patterns of activity in the human visual cortex seen with fMRI: S. Shomstein's laboratory |
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 Principal Investigator Projects in my laboratory focus on “Neuro-Glia” interactions. My research will explore the understudied and novel mechanisms by which neuromodulators mediate the interactions between neurons, astrocytes, and microglia in both normal and disease states. By studying how neuromodulators mediate the unique interactions between these three cells types, we will elucidate their coordinated functions in the normal, healthy brain and how disruptions of neuronal glial crosstalk will contribute to disease processes such as ADHD, depression, and epilepsy. To that end, we hope these studies will provide valuable insight on the role of glia in pathophysiology, which is under-recognized in developmental disorders, with the hope of revealing pathways suitable for manipulation to alter disease progression in the central nervous system. To accomplish these goals, we employ a combination of transgenic animals, electrophysiology, pharmacology, behavioral assays, and 2-Photon Ca2+ imaging in acute slices and awake behaving animals. 111 Michigan Ave., NW
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 Francys Subiaul, PhD Dr. Subiaul's laboratory focuses on the development of social learning and reasoning. Specifically, it has sought to characterize the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying different imitation mechanisms in order to better predict socio-cognitive developmental in typically- and atypically-developing populations. Published and on-going research has showed that not only are different types of imitation learning dissociable (or independently of one another), but their functioning and development is independent of other asocial learning mechanisms like associative learning and recall. Government Hall, 204 |
 F. Subiaul's laboratory |
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 Malathi Thothathiri, PhD Dr. Thothathiri's lab studies the neural basis of language. We investigate the role of frontal cortex in syntax, sequencing and executive function using functional neuroimaging, the examination of patients with brain damage, and the development of language in children whose frontal regions are yet to mature. Government Hall, 203 |
 Cognitive control regions play a role in sentence production Dr. Thothathiri's lab studies the neural basis of language and other higher level cognitive functions. In particular, we ask how humans produce and understand sentences. How do we order words in grammatical ways? How do we understand the different meanings that are conveyed by different sentence structures?Research in the lab examines three different populations (healthy adults, patients with aphasia, typically developing children) and employs neuroimaging (fMRI), eye-tracking, and other behavioral methods. |
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 Masaaki Torii, PhD Dr. Torii's laboratory is interested in understanding how various neuronal subtypes in the cerebral cortex are assembled into functional cortical columns, and how these neurons establish specific neuronal connections during development. We are also interested in how these processes are disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. To address these questions, we use a combination of in vivo gene manipulation and mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Children's National Health System |
 Dr. Torii's laboratory |
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 Jason Triplett, PhD Dr. Triplett's lab studies the genetic and activity-dependent cues that direct proper wiring in the brain. During development, billions of neurons need to make trillions of synapses in a precise manner to mediate proper sensory perception, behaviors and cognitive processes. To understand the cellular processes involved in precise wiring, we utilize anatomical tracing methods, electrophysiology and molecular techniques in transgenic mouse models. Children's National Health System |
 Labeled neurons from the visual cortex project to the superior colliculus and refine during the second postnatal week. J. Triplett's laboratory. |
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 Greg Wallace, PhD Dr. Wallace's research focuses on neuropsychological and structural brain development in autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan and their impacts on real-world outcomes. For example, he has recently examined executive functioning profiles and their relationships to academic achievement in children and adaptive functioning in both children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. He is also particularly interested in eating-related behaviors and their cognitive and neural correlates in typical and atypical (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) development. Dr. Wallace has published extensively and presented his work widely on these and related topics. Government Hall, Room 211 |
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 Guangying Wu, PhD Dr. Wu's laboratory uses electrophysiological, imaging and behavioral methods to elucidate neural circuitry mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal sensory information processing and related behaviors in systems-level. Two research lines are currently conducted: one is focused on the emergence of auditory feature selectivity (such as sound phase, direction, location, etc.); the other one adopts top-down approach to study the vocalization system of the mouse brain. Ross Hall 663 |
 Illustration to the research figure: Mapping the receptive fields of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs of auditory neurons. G. Wu's laboratory. |
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 Xiaoyan Zheng, PhD The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway organizes pattern formation in a variety of embryonic tissues and functions post-embryonically in homeostatic processes. Hh pathway dysfunction thus can lead to embryonic pattern disruptions, such as holoprosencephaly and other birth defects in humans; post-embryonic dysfunction can result in failure of adult tissue regeneration as well as proliferative disorders, such as cancer Dr. Zheng's laboratory focuses on (I) identifying target genes regulated by the Hh signal, and (II) studying the biochemical and cell biological principles governing a critical yet poorly understood step of Hh signal transduction: trafficking of Hh receptors. Ross Hall 205 |
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 Irene Zohn, PhD Dr. Zohn's laboratory is interested in understanding the pathways that regulate morphogenesis of the neural tube. As a model system we utilize several novel mutant mouse lines with disruptions in neural tube closure that have provided novel insight into the pathways that regulate neurulation. Children's National Health System |
 neurodevelopmental regulatory gene, Hectd1, is expressed between somites in an early mouse embryo; I. Zohn's laboratory. |