Overview

Our lab focuses on using human stem cell models to better understand Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis to ultimately aid the development of novel therapeutics. AD is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder first affecting memory that has no effective treatments to reverse or stop pathology. Although animal models of AD have been informative, the fact that we have cured “AD” in a mouse over 100+ times and it has not translated in the clinic argues that there are human-specific aspects of the disease. To this end, we generate human isogenic human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) models of AD using CRISPR, and differentiate them into various central nervous system cell types for mechanistic studies, and to a lesser extent drug screening. We also develop novel hPSC differentiation protocols which we apply to our AD studies. All of our work is very collaborative, both in the context of our own research program and by serving as a collaborative resource for other researchers in the Taub Institute for Research for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University.

Research Opportunities

Our laboratory is located at 650 W. 168th St. William Black Building Room 1002, New York, NY 10032, on the Columbia University Irving Medical Center Campus. We are currently hiring for postdoctoral and associate research scientist positions. Interested candidates with relevant experience (ideally pluripotent stem cell, neuronal, brain vasculature, or microglial backgrounds) should write directly to Dr. Andrew Sproul (aas2003@cumc.columbia.edu) and include your CV. Graduate or undergraduate students who want to learn more about the lab should also email directly. We anticipate additional technician positions opening within the next year.