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.

December 14, 2020

Research Feature

Picower scientists are making the dauntingly long but highly motivating climb between associating a gene with disease and developing potential treatments.

November 20, 2020

Recent Events

Speakers describe studies to address Alzheimer’s disease, sleep apnea and to advance fundamental discoveries in cell and chromosome biology

October 26, 2020

Picower People

Award cites major contributions to statistical analysis of brain activity and advancing the neuroscience of anesthesia

August 10, 2020

Research Findings

Theoretical framework shows that many properties of neural connections help biological circuits produce consistent computations

July 17, 2020

Research Findings

Unique survey of gene expression by cell type in humans and mice reveals several deficits affecting the most vulnerable neurons

July 7, 2020

Research Findings

Diversity in how cells talk to the muscle they innervate reveal distinct propensities for change, or “plasticity”

June 30, 2020

Research Findings

Among study’s many surprises may be a new way to address Fragile X syndrome – by finding a “Protein X”

June 8, 2020

Research Findings

MIT researchers pinpoint mechanism and demonstrate drugs could help

May 26, 2020

Research Findings

Knocking out the immune cytokine IL-6 exacerbates symptoms in HD model mice, affects neural connection genes

May 20, 2020

Research Findings

Drug compound, tested in mice, could be effective in treating the leading heritable cause of intellectual disability and autism

May 18, 2020

Research Findings

Reactivating an enzyme that promotes DNA repair can help to reverse age-related cognitive decline in mice.

May 6, 2020

Research Findings

The protein Synaptotagmin 7 limits supply of neurotransmitter-containing vesicles for release at synapses

Genes & Disease

Down syndrome symposium highlights clinical, fundamental progress

Brown wins SfN’s Swartz Prize for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience

Math shows how brain stays stable amid internal noise and a widely varying world

Neural vulnerability in Huntington’s disease tied to release of mitochondrial RNA

Seemingly similar, two neurons show distinct styles as they interact with the same muscle partner

Findings weaken notion that size equals strength for neural connections

Study finds path for addressing Alzheimer’s blood-brain barrier impairment

Research highlights immune molecule’s complex role in Huntington’s disease

Scientists find a new way to reverse symptoms of Fragile X

Study finds that aging neurons accumulate DNA damage

Study finds ‘volume dial’ for turning neural communication up or down