Previous Lefler Fellows

2018 Lefler Fellows

Bence Gyorgy (read profile)
Corey Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss in Usher Syndrome

Zhihua Liu
Rogulja Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
Characterizing the Roles of LIM-type Proteins in Circadian Behavior

2017 Lefler Fellows

Arthur DeJong
Kaeser Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
Clustering of Phospholipids by RIM Proteins at the Presynaptic Active Zone

Eliz Litvina
Chen Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
Retinal Ganglion Cell Subtype Competition at the Retinogeniculate Synapse

Zhihua Liu
Rogulja Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
Characterizing the Roles of LIM-type Proteins in Circadian Behavior

Alban Ordureau (read profile)
Harper Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Cell Biology
Quantitative Analysis of the PINK1/PARKIN Pathway in Dopaminergic Neurons

Jing Peng
Pecot Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
A Cell-specific Transcription Factor Erm/dFezf Controls Layer Specificity in the Drosophila Visual System

Christoph Straub
Sabatini Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
Signaling Mechanisms of GABAergic Interneurons in the Striatum

Elizabeth Buttermore
Woolf Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
2015-2016. Modeling peripheral neuropathy and degeneration using human nociceptor neurons reprogrammed from fibroblasts.

Soyon Hong (read profile)
Stevens Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
2015-2016. Early Role of Complement and Microglia in Mediating Synapse Loss in AD

Laura Driscoll
Harvey Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2014-2015. Neuronal Circuit Dynamics in Mouse Cortex During Learning

Paul Greer
Datta Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2014-2015. Role of a Novel Family of Odorant Receptors in Innate Mouse Behavior

Soyon Hong
Stevens Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
2014-2015. Early Role of Complement and Microglia in Mediating Synapse Loss in AD

Steven Rodriquez
Albers Lab at MIND, Massachusetts General Hospital
2014-2015. The Role of Interferon Signaling in the Induction and Propagation of Neurodegeneration

Andreas Liu
Do Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
2013-2014. Functional Specializations of the Central Retina: Basic Biology and Relevance to Therapies for Macular Degeneration

Sarah Pease
Segal Lab, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
2013-2014. The Role of Axonal Translation in Neurotrophin-Dependent Axonal Survival

Man Yan Wong
Kaeser Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2013-2014. Dynamic Regulation of Active Zone Properties by Specific ELKS Isoforms

Ayal Ben-Zvi
Gu Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2013-2014. Identification of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Governing the Formation of the Blood Brain Barrier.
Current Position: Assistant Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Yao Chen
Sabatini Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2012-2013. Integration and Dynamics of Neuromodulator Action in the Striatum

Wei-Chung Allen Lee
Reid Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2012. Network Anatomy and In Vivo Physiology of Visual Cortical Microcircuits
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Kirby Neurobiology BCH

Allison Nishitani
Goodrich Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2012-2013. The Role of Netrin-1 in basement Membrane Regulation

Miklos Antal
Regehr Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2011-2012. Investigating the Functional Role of Activity-Dependent and -Independent Cholinergic Signaling in a Model Circuit

Eloise Hudry
Hyman Lab, Harvard Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology
2010-2011. Gene therapy strategies in Alzheimer’s disease through peripheral administration of Adeno-associated vectors (AAV)

Xiaojin Liu
Cardozo Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2010-2011. Development of neural stem cell (NSC) therapy from a novel source of autologous NSC, Filum Terminale

Seth Margolis
Greenberg Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2010-2011. High resolution imaging of molecular pathways that mediate synapse restriction
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University Medical School

Long-Jun Wu
Clapham Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2010-2011. Contribution of microglial voltage-gated proton channel, HV1, in NADPH oxidase-induced neuronal death in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University

Zdenek Berger
LaVoie Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
2009-2010. Elucidating active conformations of LRRK2 and regulation of its kinase activity
Current Position: Senior Scientist, Pfizer Inc

Won-Jong Oh
Gu Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2009-2010. Role of plexin-D1 in the cerebellar circuitry formation during development and maintenance in the adult
Current Position: Principle Investigator at Korea Brain Research Institute

Irit Rappley
Selkoe Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
2008-2009. Characterizing the effects of alpaha-synuclein on mitochondria in a cellular model of Parkinson’s disease
Current Position: Researcher, Celgene

Yue Yang
Bonni Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2008-2009. NeuroD2 regulation of presynaptic development

Claudia Prada
Frosch Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital
2007-2008. Regulation of progression of cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Current Position: Biogen

George Tofaris
Goldberg Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Cell Biology
2007-2008. Proteasome function in neurodegenerative diseases
Current Position: University of Oxford

Jamie Fitzgerald
Assad Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2007-2008. Probing cortical plasticity mechanisms
Current Position: Data Scientist

Michael Myre
Wasco Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital
2007-2008. Differentiation-inducing factor 1 induces cell cycle arrest and decreases processing of the amyloid β precursor protein
Current Position: Instructor, Harvard Medical School & Assistant in Genetics, MGH

Saravanakumar Narayanan
Wolfe Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
2006-2007. Toward a structural insight into the catalytic mechanism of intramembrane proteolysis
Current Position: Associate Research Associate, MGH

Sergio Pablo Sardi
Corfas Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
2006-2007. g-Secretase-dependent erbB4 regulation of neuronal precursor fate
Current Position: Sanofi Genzyme

U. Shivraj Sohur
Macklis Lab, Harvard Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology
2006-2007. Molecular development of corticostriatal projection neurons: toward neuronal support and circuit repair in neurodegenerative diseases

Magali Periquet
Feany Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
2005-2006. a-Synuclein toxicity and aggregation in a Drosophila model of Parkinson’s Disease
Current Position: Sanofi Genzyme

Erica A. Fradinger
Teplow Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
2004-2005. Biological activity of soluble Ab oligomers and their link to Alzheimer’s disease
Current Position: Whittier College

Masahiro Kondo
Schmucker Lab, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
2004-2005. Functional significance of the molecular diversity of the Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule

Maria S. Robles
Weitz Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2004-2005. Proteomic analysis of the mammalian circadian clock

Zengqiang Yuan
Bonni Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2004-2005. Cdh1-APC regulation of axonal growth
Current Position: Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Jay Hwan Chyung
Selkoe Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
2003-2004. Cell surface events in the processing of APP to generate Ab
Current Position: Chief Operating Officer, 10X Health

Anna Y Kornilova
Wolfe Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
2003-2004. Probing γ-secretase with photoactivable inhibitors
Current Position: Merck

Camillo Padoa-Schioppa
Assad Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2003-2004. Neural correlates of choice in the orbitofrontal cortex
Current Position: Associate Professor Washington University St Louis

Adrian Isaacs
Yankner Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Genetics
2002-2003. The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and brain aging
Current Position: UCL

Taekyung Kim
Greenberg Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2002-2003. Calcium signaling to the nucleus by L-type calcium channel
Current Position: Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Rajeev Sivasankaran
He Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
2002-2003. Molecular mechanisms underlying myelin inhibition of axonal outgrowth
Current Position: Novartis

Marina Kirkitadze
Teplow Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
2001-2002. Conformational dynamics of amyloid B-protein fibrillogenisis
Current Position: Sanofi Pasteur

Marta Nieto
Walsh Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
2001-2002. Analysis of the role of homeodomain transcription factors CDP/CUX1, 2 in cortical laminar specification and axonal connectivity
Current Position: CSIS, Spain

Susan St. Pierre
Thor Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
2001-2002. Isolation of rotund and characterization of its role in neural development

Yingxi Lin
He Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital
2000-2001. The mechanism of Semaphorin signaling in Vertebrae Axon Guidance

Sanjay Magavi
Macklis Lab, Harvard Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology
2000-2001. Induction of Neocortical Neurogenesis in the Adult -PREDOC
Current Position: Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Gilmore O’Neill
Brown Lab, Harvard Medical School
2000-2001. Investigations of factors influencing the neurodegenerative phenotype of Adrenomyeloneuropathy.

Vivien Tannoch
Tsai Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology
2000-2001. Neuronal cell death: Impact of p25/cyclin-dependent kinase5 activity
Current Position: EMD Millipore

Matthew Beaudet
Saper Lab, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
1999-2000. A gene-transfer strategy for producing an animal model of Alzheimer-like neurodegeneration.

Christopher Cowan
Greenberg Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
1999-2000. Analysis of a novel FKHRL1-mediated apoptosis pathway in neurons.
Current Position: Associate Professor, Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Michael Schlossmacher
Selkoe Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
1999-2000. Cell biology of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease
Current Position: Professor, University of Ottowa

Louis Toth
Assad Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
1999-2000. Sensory and volitional aspects of basal ganglia function.
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Boston U School of Medicine

Rosemary Fricker
Macklis Lab, Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology
1998-1999. The manipulation of cortical precursor cells to replace degenerating neocortical neurons and establish connectivity with the host brain.
Current Position: Professor in Neurobiology, Director of Medical Science, Keele University, UK

Jennelle Richardson
Buckley Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
1998-1999. Mechanisms of prostanoid release from neurons.
Current Position: Assistant Dean for Medical Student Education, Clinical Assistant Professor, Indiana University

Martha Rook
Kosik Lab, Harvard Medical School
1998-1999. Translocation of specific mRNA species in neurons: visualization via a GFP linkage
Current Position: EMD Millipore

Herminia Diana Rosas
Beal Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital
1998-1999. Huntington’s Disease: Morphometry, chemistry & cognition.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Karen Aboody-Guterman
Breakfefield Lab, Massachusetts General Hospital
1997. Interaction of apoE protein Alzheimer beta-amyloid protein.

Jinhe Li
Potter Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
1996-1997. Expression, structure, and function of the presenilins.

Philip Nadeau
Yankner Lab, HMS Genetics
1998.

Fiona Watson
Segal Lab, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
1997.
Current Position: Associate Professor of Biology, Director of Neuroscience Program, Washington and Lee University

Lianna Orlando
Young Lab, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease
1996-1997.

Yi Sun
Greenberg Lab, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology
1996-1997. Identification of the signaling cascade involved in neuronal apoptosis induced by NGF deprivation.
Current Position: Professor, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles

Deborah Watson
Selkoe Lab, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
1995-1996.

David Wilson
Saper Lab, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
1996-1997. Induction of Tau Pathology in Cultured Cells

Previous Recipients of Lefler Small Grants