Serotonin neurons are mainly localized to the raphe nuclei of the brainstem, but their axons are widely distributed throughout the nervous system and have a ubiquitous role in physiological processes and behavior. Adding to this complexity is the diverse array of high-affinity receptors that bind...

In patient with lewy body disease, the protein alpha-synuclein aggregates, leading to severe multi-system symptoms, including hallucinations, loss of smell, dementia, imbalance, fluctuating confusion, and anxiety/depression. The main research goal of the Aldridge Laboratory is to understand the...

Dr. Alex Bassuk is a Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, and holds the Joel and Jay Stead Chair for Leadership in Children's Medicine, and is Physician-in-Chief for University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Dr. Bassuk is a member of the University of Iowa Graduate Programs in Genetics...

We study the neural circuits and intraneuronal signaling mechanisms that regulate appetite, body weight, sleep, and cardiorespiratory function in mice and aim to understand how these regulatory processes go awry in metabolic disorders. To this end, we employee state-of-the-art neuroscience...

We combine behavioral, physiological, functional neuroanatomical, and cellular approaches to unravel the neural circuitry that underlies adaptive neuroendocrine responses to stress. Recently we have identified a locus in the basal forebrain that serves as a neural hub for integrating and relaying...

In the lab, we use genetic techniques to isolate and manipulate neurons that mediate basic physiologic functions including sleep, appetite, bladder control, and thermoregulation. My focus lies in identifying and deciphering previously unknown connections between neurons in the brainstem and other...

One of the primary areas of research in my laboratory is elucidating the genetic basis of neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s Disease, and neurodevelopmental disorders. We have found that mutations in the prickle gene cause seizure disorders in fruit flies, similar to those...

We aim to uncover the neural mechanisms underlying the homeostatic regulation of appetite and cardiometabolic physiology. To do so, we use genetically engineered mouse models and Cre-dependent AAVs to specifically map neuronal circuits as well as manipulate and record their activity in order to...

Dr. Sluka's laboratory studies the peripheral and central mechanisms of chronic musculoskeletal pain. These studies primarily involve the use of animal models of muscle pain developed and characterized in Dr. Sluka's laboratory. Current projects are aimed at deciphering the role of descending...

The Trapp lab engages in research endeavors aimed at improving the current applications of neuromodulation, better understanding the physiologic effects of brain stimulation therapies, and exploring the potential for these therapies in new patient populations. We are currently engaged in research...