Labs of the Department of Neuroscience

Advancing the Frontiers of Brain Science

The Department of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina is nationally recognized for its pioneering research into the complexities of the brain and behavior. Our labs investigate the biological mechanisms that drive cognition, emotion, addiction, and neurodevelopment using approaches that span molecular biology, imaging, behavioral analysis, and computational modeling.

Led by innovative faculty and supported by a vibrant community of students, postdoctoral fellows, and collaborators, our research teams advance discoveries that shape the future of neuroscience and improve lives through transformative therapies and technologies.

Decoding How Emotions Shape Behavior

The Azevedo Lab explores how emotional experiences influence brain circuits and behavior, identifying neural pathways that connect stress, feeding, and anxiety to advance treatment for eating disorders.

Unraveling the Genetics of the Human Brain

The Berto Lab integrates neurogenomics, imaging, and evolutionary biology to reveal how genetic regulation and molecular evolution shape cognition and neuropsychiatric disease.

Modeling Cortical Circuits and Cognition

The Bharioke Lab combines optical imaging and computational modeling to understand how cortical circuits form, adapt, and malfunction in developmental and cognitive disorders.

Innovating in Neuroscience Education

The Boger Lab enhances neuroanatomy education through inventive instructional methods and multimedia tools that elevate student learning and engagement in neuroscience.

Examining Addiction and Decision-Making

The Chandler Lab investigates how alcohol and drug exposure reshape brain plasticity and prefrontal control, uncovering how these changes drive addiction and impaired decision-making.

Exploring Molecular Mechanisms of Brain Development

The Cowan Lab investigates genetic and molecular pathways that regulate brain development and addiction, revealing how neural circuits adapt under healthy and pathological conditions.

Linking Stress to Social Behavior

The Flanigan Lab studies how stress, alcohol, and drugs disrupt social functioning, using advanced imaging and behavioral tools to reveal mechanisms of social dysfunction in psychiatric illness.

Advancing MRI for Brain Microstructure

The Jensen Lab develops next-generation MRI methods to visualize brain microstructure and detect early biomarkers in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.

Mapping Brain Networks in Disease Risk

The Joseph Lab uses functional MRI and connectome modeling to identify neural disruptions linked to Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders.

Redefining the Biology of Addiction

The Kalivas Lab pioneers understanding of addiction at the cellular and circuit levels, uncovering how stress and drugs alter brain plasticity to drive relapse and vulnerability.

Understanding the Prefrontal Cortex in Addiction

The Lavin Lab examines cellular and synaptic mechanisms within the prefrontal cortex to uncover how drugs of abuse disrupt cognitive control and contribute to relapse.

Discovering the Role of Glia in Brain Health

The Li Lab investigates how neuron-glia communication supports myelination and brain function, advancing insight into demyelinating and neurodegenerative diseases.

Targeting Neural Pathways of Relapse

The McGinty Lab studies corticostriatal plasticity and neurotrophic signaling to identify how brain circuits mediate relapse in substance use disorders.

Investigating Neural Adaptations to Alcohol

The Mulholland Lab explores how alcohol and stress alter neuronal excitability and synaptic function, revealing mechanisms that contribute to alcohol dependence.

Illuminating Circuits of Addiction

The Otis Lab uses deep-brain imaging and optogenetics to visualize and manipulate neuronal circuits, identifying how plasticity drives drug-seeking and reward behavior.

Exploring Alcohol and Stress Neurobiology

The Rinker Lab investigates how stress-related pathways in the prefrontal cortex and thalamus modulate alcohol consumption, revealing mechanisms behind stress-enhanced drinking.

Developing Therapeutic Strategies for Dementia

The Sambamurti Lab advances molecular research on Alzheimer’s disease, identifying new regulatory mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration.

Investigating Human-Specific Genes in the Brain

The Schmidt Lab studies how human-specific genes shape brain development, connectivity, and learning, uncovering their roles in cognition and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Discovering Molecular Drivers of Relapse

The Smith Lab applies high-throughput sequencing and brain mapping to uncover molecular and circuit adaptations underlying addiction and relapse across species.

Linking Gene Expression to Behavior

The Taniguchi Lab explores how gene regulation and epigenetic mechanisms transform emotional experience into behavior, offering insight into addiction and stress disorders.

Defining Alcohol’s Impact on Brain Circuits

The Woodward Lab examines how alcohol exposure alters neuronal and astrocytic communication across cortical and subcortical networks to inform treatments for alcohol use disorder.