Research Labs
Aboud's Lab
Aboud's lab uses AI and metabolomics to study brain tumor metabolism and biomarkers, aiming to develop non-invasive diagnostics and new treatments that improve outcomes for patients with gliomas.
Principal Investigator
Orwa Aboud, M.D.
Armstrong Lab
The Armstrong lab studies how brain circuits cause seizures in children. Using EEG, resected brain tissue, and neuromodulation, they aim to improve epilepsy treatment through surgery, genetics, and precision therapies.
Principal Investigator
Caren Armstrong, M.D., Ph.D.
Ben-Shalom Lab
The Ben-Shalom lab uses neuron simulations and electrophysiology to study how ion channel disruptions affect brain activity in autism, epilepsy, and developmental delays, aiming to design targeted, testable treatments.
Principal Investigator
Roy Ben-Shalom, Ph.D.
Brooks-Kayal Lab
Brooks-Kayal's research aims to prevent and treat seizures co-occurring with cognitive conditions in epilepsy by studying how brain injuries disrupt inhibitory signaling, using advanced techniques in rodent models of epilepsy.
Principal Investigator
Amy Brooks-Kayal, M.D.
Dementia and Disparities Lab
The Dementia and Disparities Lab studies how social factors impact dementia and caregiving, aiming to develop culturally tailored, community-based interventions to support adults experiencing dementia and their families.
Principal Investigator
Oanh Meyer, Ph.D., M.A.S.
Epigenome Editing Lab
The lab focuses on building foundational datasets while discovering how changes in gene expression affect brain development disorders and developing new tools to improve treatments for childhood neurological disorders that currently have no cure.
Principal Investigator
Julian Halmai, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Epilepsy and Systems Neuroscience Laboratory
This team focuses on understanding how brain structures that regulate sleep and wakefulness also influence seizure risk, while exploring new techniques to control seizures more effectively.
Principal Investigator
Nigel Pedersen, M.D.
Epilepsy, Sleep, and Cognition
This work focuses on understanding how sleep disruptions and neurodevelopmental changes contribute to cognitive impairments in epilepsy, particularly in childhood-onset temporal lobe epilepsy, aiming to improve cognitive outcomes through sleep optimization.
Principal Investigator
Temitayo Oyegbile-Chidi, M.D., Ph.D.
Epileptogenesis Lab
The team studies cellular mechanisms behind epilepsy to identify drug targets to prevent seizures. Their research has identified calpain overactivation as a key driver of epileptogenesis, and we are investigating blocking it as a potential drug target.
Principal Investigator
Marco González, Ph.D.
Everyday Cognition and Resilient Aging Lab
This lab seeks to understand modifiable psychosocial and behavioral determinants of cognitive health and independence among diverse older adults. A goal is to translate this knowledge into interventions and assessment tools ot support cognition and daily function.
Principal Investigators
Sarah Farias, Ph.D.
Alyssa Weakley, Ph.D.
Fink Lab
The Fink lab focuses on rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders, utilizing patient-derived stem cell models to understand each disease and then screen novel therapeutic approaches.
Principal Investigator
Kyle Fink, Ph.D.
Functional Advanced Neuroimaging Lab
Audrey Fan's team develops advanced MRI and PET imaging techniques to study human brain function and improve cerebral health across the lifespan.
Principal Investigator
Audrey Fan, Ph.D.
Gray Lab
Gray’s lab studies how NMDA receptors regulate synapse development and plasticity in the brain, exploring how disruptions in these processes contribute to disorders like schizophrenia, autism, addiction, and Alzheimer’s.
Principal Investigator
John Gray, M.D., Ph.D.
Guo Lab
The Guo lab focuses on glial cell biology to promote myelin formation and regeneration in white matter injury and diseases, using genetic, molecular, and animal models to explore potential therapeutic interventions.
Principal Investigator
Fuzheng Guo, Ph.D.
Hanks Lab
This team studies the brain mechanisms behind decision-making by training rodents on complex tasks. We use optogenetics, neural recordings, and other advanced tools to measure and influence brain activity, aiming to understand circuit-level computations that drive decisions.
Principal Investigator
Timothy Hanks, Ph.D.
IDEA Lab
The lab focuses on using advanced brain imaging to study normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia in diverse populations while investigating the role of genetics, cerebrovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease in these processes.
Principal Investigator
Charles DeCarli, M.D.
Laboratory for Intracranial Neurophysiology
Jack Lin leads the UC Davis Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. He specializes in treating drug-resistant epilepsy and conducts research on memory, learning, and emotional processing using advanced brain recordings.
Principal Investigator
Jack Lin, M.D.
Laboratory for the Neural Mechanisms of Attention
This lab studies brain attention mechanisms using a mix of methods, including EEG, fMRI, and behavioral tests. The research aims to understand how attention works and helps treat attention-related disorders.
Principal Investigator
George (Ron) Mangun, Ph.D.
Maselli's Laboratory
This lab studies rare congenital myasthenic syndromes and develops gene therapies to correct the underlying molecular defects. We test treatments in animal models and patient-derived cells to provide safe, curative solutions.
Principal Investigator
Ricardo Maselli, M.D.
Morrison Lab
This lab focuses on understanding how age-related changes in brain circuitry contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration, aiming to develop treatments for disorders like Alzheimer’s by studying synaptic health and molecular changes.
Principal Investigator
John Morrison, Ph.D.
Neuro-opthalmology Lab
Allison Liu is a physician-scientist focused on neuro-ophthalmology and neurodegenerative diseases. Her research aims to identify eye biomarkers for Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders, developing non-invasive tools for diagnosis and monitoring.
Principal Investigator
Allison Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Rachel Whitmer Lab
Whitmer uses population science and epidemiology to study brain aging and lower the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. She looks at many people groups, including ethnic minorities, people with diabetes, and those over 90.
Principal Investigator
Rachel Whitmer, Ph.D.
Richman Lab
This lab creates animal models to study diseases affecting the connection between nerves and muscles, aiming to find better treatments. Their work focuses on understanding the immune system and body functions in these diseases.
Principal Investigator
David Richman, M.D.
Savalia Lab
This research aims to better understand the pathomechanisms of secondary injuries following TBI, with a specific focus on intracranial hypertension and paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity, to improve therapeutic options ultimately, patients’ clinical trajectories, long-term recovery, and health system outcomes.
Principal Investigator
Krupa Savalia, M.D., Ph.D.
T.A.N.D.Y. Lab
The Transcriptional Advances in Neurological Disorders and injurY Lab studies systems-wide gene expression using omics technologies. Their research will facilitate advancement towards precision medicine by identifying prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers and biological underpinnings associated with individual complexities.
Principal Investigators
Boryana Stamova, M.S., Ph.D.
Bradley Ander, Ph.D., M.B.A.
UC Davis Bioanalysis and Pharmacokinetics
Rogawski's research focuses on brain cell activity, studying ion channels and treatments for many disorders. His work led to new treatments for seizures and the groundbreaking postpartum depression treatment brexanolone (Zulresso™).
Principal Investigator
Michael Rogawski, M.D., Ph.D.
Usrey Neuroscience
The long-term goal of the Usrey laboratory is to understand the functional properties of neural circuits that serve vision and the relationship between cell physiology, circuit activity, behavior, and perception.
Principal Investigator
W. Martin Usrey, Ph.D.
Wang Lab
Our laboratory is dedicated to uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern oligodendrocyte development, CNS myelination, and white matter repair.
Principal Investigator
Wingo Lab
Our lab’s research aims to uncover the genetic causes of dementia, neuropsychiatric conditions, and their shared origins, to better understand and combat those brain illnesses.
Principal Investigators