Johns Hopkins University · BiologyNeurodegeneration and Metabolism Lab
Valina L. Dawson · Baltimore, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. Valina L. Dawson's lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. By studying the roles of specific proteins and metabolic changes in brain cells, the lab seeks to uncover the causes of cognitive dysfunction and develop potential therapies to protect neurons. Their research uses innovative techniques, including imaging mass spectrometry and genetic models, to explore how changes in brain metabolism affect neurodegeneration.
neurodegenerationAlzheimer's diseaseParkinson's diseasemetabolomicscell deathmicrogliaastrocytesalpha synucleinnucleaseinflammation
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the role of MIF nuclease activity in cognitive dysfunction related to synucleinopathies.
AIM 02Examine metabolomic changes in the microglial-astrocytic-neuronal axis in Alzheimer's disease models.
AIM 03Identify cell-type-specific responses to amyloid and tau pathology in human post-mortem brains.
Skills the Lab Values
imaging mass spectrometrymetabolomic analysismouse modelsgenetic manipulationcell cultureneurobehavioral assessmentsbiochemical assaysWestern blotimmunofluorescencedata analysis
Output against the department
Publications560top 6% of dept.59th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations101ktop 1% of dept.13th 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.