Neuroscience Bridge
Josh Bonkowsky, MD, PhD
Title: Associate Professor - Pediatrics (Pediatric Neurology)
The Bonkowsky group uses a combination of bench and clinical research approaches to
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: Pediatric, leukodystrophy, epilepsy, Zebrafish, Hypoxia, Big data
Mario Capecchi, PhD
Title: Distinguished Professor - Human Genetics
Our laboratory is working on the interactions between the CNS and the immune system both in terms of maintaining homeostasis as well as, when aberrant, leading to pathology.
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: microglia, gene targeting, hox genes, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, mouse models
Email: capecchi@genetics.utah.edu
Stacey Clardy, MD, PhD
Title: Assistant Professor - Neurology
Research focuses on the epidemiology and pathophysiology of autoimmune neurologic disorders (neural autoantibody mediated) and immune-mediated neurologic disorders, including autoimmune encephalitis and paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes,
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: autoimmune neurology, neuroimmunology, paraneoplastic, encephalitis, neuromyelitis
Email: Stacey.Clardy@hsc.utah.edu
Donna Cross, PhD
Title: Research Associate Professor - Radiology and Imaging Sciences
The Neuroimaging and Biotechnology Lab (
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: MRI, PET, focused ultrasound, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, theranostics
Email: D.Cross@utah.edu
Richard Dorsky, PhD
Title: Professor - Neurobiology and Anatomy
The Dorsky laboratory studies the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in CNS neurogenesis. We use zebrafish as a model organism, focusing on the regulation of Wnt target genes in the CNS by Tcf transcription factors. Our current work focuses on neurogenesis in the spinal cord and the hypothalamus, addressing three important questions.
1) Which cells require Wnt/Tcf signaling?
2) What are the molecular targets of Tcf proteins?
3) How does Wnt/Tcf-dependent neurogenesis contribute to physiology and behavior?
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: Wnt signaling, zebrafish, developmental neurobiology, spinal cord injury, hypothalmus
Robert Fujinami, PhD
Title: Professor - Pathology
Viral infections of the central nervous system often result in encephalitis which is a risk factor for epilepsy. My lab has developed a new “hit and run” model to study virus-induced epilepsy where a virus infection alters central nervous system connectivity, the virus is cleared by the immune response and epilepsy occurs after the virus is gone. This has opened up how we think about epilepsy.
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: demyelinating disease, virus-induced autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis, viral pathogenesis, seizures, epilepsy
Email: robert.fujinami@hsc.utah.edu
John Greenlee, MD
Title: Professor - Neurology
My research is in the area of autoimmune and paraneoplastic neurological disease. Studies involve
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: autoimmune neurology, paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, organotypic brain cultures, autoantibodies, animal models
Email: john.greenlee@hsc.utah.edu
Christopher Gregg, PhD
Title: Assistant Professor - Neurobiology and Anatomy
Discovering how epigenetic mechanisms shape behavior and disease
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: epigenetics, genomics, brain disease, mental health, machine learning, CRISPR gene editing
Email: chris.gregg@neuro.utah.edu
Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD
Title: Professor - Radiology and Imaging Sciences
In vivo animal and human imaging of immune cells and inflammation.
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: imaging, PET, MRI, immune cells, inflammation
Email: sminoshima@hsc.utah.edu
Kathryn Morton, MD
Title: Professor - Radiology and Imaging Sciences
Causes and consequences of sepsis-induced neuroinflammation.
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: positron emission tomography, sepsis, neuroinflammation, amyloid beta
Email: Kathryn.Morton@hsc.utah.edu
Stefan Pulst, MD
Title: Professor - Neurology
We are investigating the mechanisms of adult-onset neurodegeneration. Our studies usually begin with genetic analysis of human pedigrees followed by modeling the disease process in cultured cells or by introducing mutations into model systems. Our focus has been on the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA2, SCA10, SCA13) and inherited forms of Parkinson disease, groups of diseases that lead to cell-type specific neurodegeneration.
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: neurodegeneration, human pedigrees, spinocerebellar ataxias
Email: stefan.pulst@hsc.utah.edu
John Rose, MD
Title: Professor - Neurology
Dr. Rose and his colleagues investigate diverse aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS), including the immunopathology of MS and related models, the development of new treatments for MS, early disease detection with advanced magnetic resonance imaging, and the detection of susceptibility genes for MS.
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: multiple sclerosis, neurology, MRI
Email: rose@neuro.med.utah.edu
Jason Shepherd, PhD
Title: Associate Professor - Neurobiology and Anatomy
The goal of our research is to understand information storage, from the molecular level through in vivo neuronal networks and how these processes go awry in neurological disorders. My lab utilizes coordinated biochemical, cell biological, electrophysiological and imaging studies both in vitro and in vivo. We recently discovered a novel mechanism of neuronal communication that resembles the life-cycle of retroviruses
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: neurodegenerative diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, synaptic transmission. synaptic membranes, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, receptor trafficking, Immediate-Early Proteins, endocytosis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Angelman Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease
Monica Vetter, PhD
Title: Professor - Neurobiology and Anatomy
Microglia are dynamic remodelers of the central nervous system in both health and disease. Our research is focused on understanding the roles of microglia during
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: microglia, development, neurodegeneration, retina
Email: monica.vetter@neuro.utah.edu
Karen Wilcox, PhD
Title: Professor - Pharmacology and Toxicology
Dr. Wilcox's areas of research interests include basic mechanisms of pharmacoresistant epilepsy, the role of inflammation in circuit function, seizure generation, and epileptogenesis, and the mechanism of action of anti-seizure drugs
3i Bridge/Pillar: Neuroscience
Keywords: neuroinflammation, epilepsy, antiseizure drug development, glial cells
Email: karen.wilcox@hsc.utah.edu