Experiment: Organotypic Slice Culture

Mouse Organotypic Brain Slices: A Platform to Investigate Remyelination Mechanisms in Frontotemporal Dementia

Sampada Tamhankar is a PhD candidate in the Department of Drug Discovery and Development at Auburn University, where she conducts her research in Dr. Rajesh Amin’s laboratory. Dr. Amin’s group focuses on developing novel small-molecule therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases—including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Sampada’s work centers on understanding remyelination mechanisms in FTD using […]

Written by on December 9, 2025

Organotypic Tumor Slices: A Platform for Identifying Therapeutic Targets in Cancer-Stroma Interactions

Dr. Taran Gujral is an Associate Professor at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Director of the TRACER Rare Cancer Initiative. His lab integrates pharmacology, machine learning, and cell biology to map tissue-specific signaling pathways and uncover new treatment strategies for rare and therapy-resistant cancers. Dr. Gujral has pioneered the development of AI-powered tools such as KiR, KiDNN, and SmartMatch, which use 3D tumor slice models to rapidly predict personalized therapies. He earned his PhD from Queen’s University and is a recipient of multiple prestigious awards including the Kimmel Scholar, NSF CAREER, and Ivy Foundation Emerging Leader. Dr. Gujral has authored over 60 scientific publications and holds several patents in cancer biology and therapeutic discovery.

Written by on May 13, 2025

Modulation of Neuronal Signaling by Brain Extracellular Space Structure and Dynamics

Dr. Virginia Puente is a neuroscientist whose work focuses on how the structure and dynamics of the brain’s extracellular space (ECS) modulate neuronal signaling. Her research integrates advanced tools including optogenetics, fluorescence imaging, and super-resolution techniques like STED microscopy and SUSHI (Super-resolution Shadow Imaging) to examine neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity.

Written by on April 22, 2025