Schwarz Lab Research
Our lab is focused on the cell biology of the neuron and seeks to understand how nerve cells work, acquire their shape, and make their connections. We do so with the expectation that understanding how the cell functions can give us insight into the pathology of neurological disorders when those functions fail. Moreover, much as the shape and style of a building is constrained and influenced by the properties of the building materials, so too is the architecture and circuitry of the brain dependent on how these cellular components operate.
The current research projects of the Schwarz Lab include 1) mitochondrial transport and quality control in neurons; 2) axonal RNA transport; and 3) the post-mitotic function of kinetochore in neurons. Our inquiries into these fundamental processes have brought us in contact with translational questions of neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The etiology of Parkinson's Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, including optic nerve atrophy have become a particular concern of our group.
Projects move back and forth between mice, rats, cell lines, and patient-derived stem cells as the scientific question demands. We approach each question through a combination of genetics, biochemistry, electrophysiology, cell biology, and imaging.
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