Molecular and Cellular

Picower Institute scientists probe the role of genes, proteins and molecules in the physiology and action of neurons and glia, including how synaptic connections change. To learn more about these or other areas of inquiry, select them under Research Topics and you'll find relevant Picower people, discoveries and events.

November 21, 2024

Recent Events

At a symposium of the Simons Center for the Social Brain, six speakers described a diversity of recently launched studies aimed at improving understanding of the autistic brain.

November 13, 2024

Research Findings

System developed by MIT and Open Ephys team provides a fast, light, standardized means for combining multiple instruments with minimal hindrance of lab mouse mobility.

October 3, 2024

New Research

With a new Glenn Foundation Discovery Award, the Heiman Lab will study the genetic and molecular basis for the exceptional longevity of neurons in hopes of using that insight to help sustain aging cells.

September 2, 2024

Picower People

Every year members of The Picower Institute find they can explore new ideas and interactions by experiencing the change of scenery afforded by the Dana and Betty Fisher retreat

July 24, 2024

Research Findings

Genomics and lab studies reveal numerous findings, including a key role for Reelin amid neuronal vulnerability, and for choline and antioxidants in sustaining cognition.

July 8, 2024

Picower People

With an eye on implications for regenerative medicine, Assistant Professor Brady Weissbourd will use the support of being named a Searle Scholar to study how jellyfish excel at building and regenerating their neural networks.

July 1, 2024

Picower People

With a new Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship in Neuroscience, Assistant Professor Linlin Fan will seek to strengthen understanding of how neural connections change to encode memories of specific locations.

June 4, 2024

Research Findings

A newly described technology improves the clarity and speed of using two-photon microscopy to image synapses in the live brain

March 25, 2024

Research Findings

Scientists have now observed how the brain’s place cells stave off inhibitory input in the process of establishing their tuning to specific locations. The study shows that signaling by endocannabinoids is required.

March 22, 2024

Research Findings

Single-cell gene expression patterns in the brain’s motor and frontal cortex, and evidence from follow-up experiments, reveal many shared cellular and molecular similarities that could be targeted for potential treatment

March 15, 2024

Research Feature

To learn how the brain works, Picower Institute labs are advancing technologies and methods to watch it live as it happens

January 9, 2024

Picower People

At MIT’s Quantitative Methods Workshop, more than 80 students and faculty from a dozen partner institutions became immersed at the intersection of computation and life sciences and forged new ties to MIT and each other.

New autism research projects represent a broad range of approaches to achieving a shared goal

Open technology platform enables new versatility for neuroscience research with more naturalistic behavior

Learning the secrets of neural longevity could benefit the aging brain and body alike, research project posits

Picower retreats advance science by giving researchers a chance to step back from the lab

Study across multiple brain regions discerns Alzheimer’s vulnerability and resilience factors

Award will enable detailed study of an organism that constantly adds new neurons

Fellowship enables study of how the brain makes memories of places

Microscope system sharpens scientists’ view of neural circuit connections

Plasticity and place: Study shows a key neural mechanism of remembering locations

Movement disorder ALS and cognitive disorder FTLD show strong molecular overlaps, new study shows

Livestreaming the Brain

Starting off the year with new skills, new connections