UTHThe University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston · Neuroscience
The NeuroInfection Lab
Rodrigo Morales · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Rodrigo Morales' lab at the University of Texas Health Science Center focuses on understanding how infections can influence neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and how prion diseases, particularly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), spread in the environment. They explore the interactions between pathogens and plants, animals, and the immune system, examining how these factors contribute to disease pathology and transmission. The lab aims to uncover the mechanisms behind these diseases to inform better control and prevention strategies.
Chronic Wasting DiseaseAlzheimer's Diseaseprionsinfectionneuroinflammationanimal modelsenvironmental transmissionimmune responsebiological assayszoonotic potential
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how Chronic Wasting Disease prions spread through the environment and their interaction with vegetation.
AIM 02Examine the role of peripheral infections in accelerating Alzheimer's disease pathology.
AIM 03Assess the impact of different parasites and scavengers on the transmission of CWD.
AIM 04Explore immune system responses in the context of neurodegeneration and infection.
AIM 05Identify key biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease linked to infections.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRanimal handlingmouse modelscell culturebioassaysimmunohistochemistryflow cytometrybiochemical assaysdata analysisimaging techniques
Output against the department
Publications150top 49% of dept.329th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.2kbottom 32% of dept.456th 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.