Rowan University · BiologyPearce Neurodegeneration Lab
Margaret Panning Pearce · Glassboro, New Jersey
Research Focus
Dr. Margaret Panning Pearce's research lab at Rowan University focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Huntington's disease. The lab investigates how certain brain cells, known as glia, interact with misfolded proteins that accumulate in the brain. By studying the roles of specific proteins and cellular pathways, the lab aims to uncover new insights that could lead to treatments for these challenging conditions that affect the aging population.
Huntington's diseaseneurodegenerationphagocytic gliaprotein aggregationcell communication
Research Aims
3AIM 01Elucidate how phagocytic glia recognize and engulf neuronal mutant huntingtin aggregates.
AIM 02Determine the role of LRRK2-mediated phosphorylation of Rab10 in aggregate spreading.
AIM 03Identify signals that trigger phagocytic glial recognition of mutant huntingtin proteins.
Skills the Lab Values
Drosophila geneticscell culturemicroscopyWestern blotprotein analysis
Output against the department
Publications22bottom 3% of dept.1,007th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.0kbottom 5% of dept.979th 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.