University of California-San Diego · BiologyGonias Lab
Steven L. Gonias · La Jolla, California
Research Focus
Dr. Steven L. Gonias's lab focuses on understanding the anti-inflammatory effects of a harmless form of prion protein in the brain, which could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. His research explores how this protein interacts with specific cellular receptors to reduce harmful inflammation in brain cells, particularly microglia and astrocytes. By studying these processes in mouse models, the lab aims to develop therapies that enhance the brain's natural defenses against inflammation.
neurodegenerationprion proteinsinflammationmicroglianeuroinflammationAlzheimer's diseaseParkinson's diseaseLRP1cell signaling
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how nonpathogenic prion protein derivatives affect microglial activation in neurodegenerative conditions.
AIM 02Examine the impact of knocking out the prion gene on neuroinflammation markers in various mouse models of diseases.
AIM 03Test whether administering prion-derived proteins can enhance the anti-inflammatory response in the brain.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsWestern blotRNA sequencinginjection techniquesimmunohistochemistryprotein purificationflow cytometrybioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications283top 21% of dept.209th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations13ktop 28% of dept.285th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.