My long-term goal is to understand how neural activity both produces memories and protects brain health, while using this knowledge to engineer neural activity to treat brain diseases. Integrating innovative experimental and analytical methods, my research has shown how coordinated electrical activity across many neurons in the hippocampus represents memories of experiences. I have found that this activity fails in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease and engineering neurons to produce this activity has neuroprotective effects. Additionally, using non-invasive approaches, I am translating my discoveries from rodents to develop radically new ways to treat diseases that affect memory in humans. These insights could lead to radically new ways to treat diseases that affect memory like Alzheimer’s, for which there are no effective therapies.
Awards and Achievements
- Fulbright Scholar