University of Miami · NeuroscienceBenatar Neuroscience Lab
Michael Benatar · Coral Gables, Florida
Research Focus
Dr. Michael Benatar's research lab at the University of Miami focuses on understanding and preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The lab conducts a pioneering study called Pre-Symptomatic Familial ALS (Pre-fALS) that seeks to identify early markers of these diseases in individuals who are genetically at risk, with the aim of facilitating early intervention. By analyzing clinical data and biological samples, the lab aims to develop prevention strategies that can alter the course of these devastating neurodegenerative disorders before symptoms appear.
ALSfrontotemporal dementiabiomarkerspre-symptomatictherapeutic preventionnatural history studyneurodegenerative diseasesrisk assessmentclinical trialsgenetic predisposition
Research Aims
3AIM 01Explore the prodromal stages of ALS and FTD in genetically at-risk individuals.
AIM 02Characterize the progression and variability of clinical markers and biomarkers during the pre-symptomatic phase.
AIM 03Identify individuals most at risk of developing clinically manifest ALS or FTD within five years.
Skills the Lab Values
clinical assessmentbiomarker analysislongitudinal studiesdata collectionstatistical modelinggenetic screeningpatient enrollmentneuroimaging techniquescognitive assessmentsbiological sample handling
Output against the department
Publications567top 10% of dept.64th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations26ktop 15% of dept.102nd of 671
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.