Neurobiology
Neurobiology investigates the nervous system’s structure, function, and development, from molecular mechanisms to complex behaviors. Our scientists study neurons, neural circuits, neurotransmitters, and brain plasticity to understand cognition, memory, sensation, and movement with application to neurological disorders, mental health conditions, and fundamental questions about consciousness, learning, and brain function.
Members
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The Apfeld Lab studies how the brain regulates aging and resilience in C. elegans to uncover fundamental principles that could lead to new therapies for age-related human diseases.
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Dr. Okeke investigates the molecular mechanisms associated with the inflammatory response of innate immune cells with a focus on neutrophils and macrophages.
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Dr. O’Malley studies neuronal networks at cellular, systems, and computational levels, focusing on symbolic operations in mammalian cortex including packet routing and auto-associative network mechanisms.
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Dr. Phong studies how animals adapt to cold aquatic environments and how they respond to warming sea temperatures.
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Dr. Sternad analyzes how humans control their voluntary movements and how this control is engendered and constrained by the dynamics of the body and the task.
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Dr. Theriault studies the brain as a self-regulating system, focusing on metabolic costs of information encoding and their implications for mental health and neuroimaging research interpretation.
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The Young Lab studies the neurons and genes that mediate C. elegans behaviors, specifically the mechanisms underlying aversive behaviors in response to electricity and cliffs.
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Dr. Zupanc’s research focuses on the exploration of neural mechanisms underlying structural plasticity in the adult central nervous system of vertebrates.
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In the news
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Research
How Northeastern scientists are using Antarctic sea spiders to study life on the edge
Connie Phong wants to know how an animal adapted to live in a highly specialized environment — just below the freezing point for seawater — responds to warming oceans. -
Research
How do axolotls regenerate limbs and organs? This researcher has started to uncover the secret
New research by James Monaghan, professor of biology, shows that the key to axolotl limb regeneration is retinoic acid. Could this be the key to human limb regeneration in the future? -
Research
This antibiotic is effective against anthrax, and has no detectable resistance, Northeastern research finds
Kim Lewis and Slava Epstein, Northeastern biology professors, developed an antibiotic over a decade ago that can now be used against anthrax. -
Research
Patagonian ‘living rocks’ trace their origins to the beginning of life on Earth
Veronica Godoy-Carter, professor of Biology and Biochemistry, has sequenced the genome of a “living hill” or bacterial colony found in Patagonia. -
Research
Why are axolotls suddenly so popular — and going extinct at the same time?
Northeastern University professors explain how the axolotl — an adorable amphibian with a permanent smile and pink, feathery gills — has become so popular, and why it’s also critically endangered in the wild. -
Research
New Northeastern research could revolutionize treatment for children’s growth plate fractures using stem cells
Andreia Ionescu, assistant professor of biology, is conducting research to understand how stem cells can be used to treat bone fractures. -
Research
Dean Hazel Sive edits volume detailing African frog research and best practices that informed her ‘life’s work’
Hazel Sive, the dean of the College of Science and professor of biology at Northeastern University, has edited “Xenopus: A Laboratory Manual,” a new textbook that presents “a comprehensive collection of experimental procedures for research using Xenopus,” according to the publisher’s webpage. Xenopus — a genus of African frog — make for versatile experiments, as […] -
Research
Three Northeastern leaders receive lifetime honor for prolific scientific contributions
Professor Penny Beuning, chair of the chemistry and chemical biology department; Elizabeth Mynatt, dean of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences; and Hazel Sive, dean of the College of Arts and Science, have all been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.