Johns Hopkins University · NeuroscienceSphingolipid Metabolism and Neurodegeneration Lab
Payam Mohassel · Baltimore, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. Payam Mohassel's research lab focuses on understanding how disruptions in lipid metabolism, particularly involving sphingolipids, contribute to motor neuron diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By using cellular and animal models, the lab investigates the effects of specific genetic mutations on neuronal health and explores potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate these effects. Their work aims to reveal new insights into neurodegeneration and develop targeted treatments for ALS.
sphingolipid biosynthesismotor neuron diseaseamyotrophic lateral sclerosisneurodegenerationmitochondrial dysfunction
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate mitochondrial bioenergetics and morphology in SPT-related ALS patient cells.
AIM 02Evaluate mitochondrial dysfunction in mouse models and nervous system cell cultures.
AIM 03Assess the effects of antisense oligonucleotides on SPT activity and neuronal function.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsRNA extractionPCRWestern blottingimmunofluorescencebioenergetics assaysgenetic mutant analysisco-culture techniques
Output against the department
Publications103bottom 35% of dept.438th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.6kbottom 17% of dept.559th 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.