Northwestern University · NeuroscienceKiskinis Neurodegeneration Lab
Evangelos Kiskinis · Evanston, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Evangelos Kiskinis's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms behind Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). The lab utilizes advanced techniques like stem cell models and genetic analysis to explore how mutations in specific genes affect motor neuron function and health. This research aims to improve models for studying these neurodegenerative diseases and identify potential treatments.
ALSFrontotemporal Dementiainduced pluripotent stem cellsmotor neuronsextracellular matrixneuropathologyNEK1 kinaseDrosophila modelsneurodegeneration
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the effects of ALS-associated NEK1 mutations on motor neuron function.
AIM 02Identify physiological substrates for NEK1-dependent phosphorylation in motor neurons.
AIM 03Refine iPSC-derived spinal cord models using appropriate extracellular matrix cues.
AIM 04Define the composition of the CNS matrisome across different developmental stages.
AIM 05Develop 3-D spinal organoids incorporating tailored ECM structures for improved neuronal modeling.
Skills the Lab Values
induced pluripotent stem cell technologiescell cultureDrosophila geneticsmass spectrometryphosphoproteomicsimmunostainingbiochemical assaysRNA interferencemicroscopy
Output against the department
Publications99bottom 33% of dept.447th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.3ktop 42% of dept.284th 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.