Interdisciplinary innovative translational neurodegenerative research for a better tomorrow

The Center for Neurological Disease Research (CNDR) is a state-of-art facility made up of an innovative, interdisciplinary network of renowned researchers that are leading the front for deciphering underlying mechanisms, developing early diagnostic biomarkers, and novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease related dementia.

Diagram of CNDR Organization

CNDR Faculty

Core Faculty

Affiliated Faculty

  • Karin Allenspach, DVM, PhD Professor, Pathology; Clinical Medicine, gastroenterology and Immunology
  • Deborah Barany, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Neuroscience
  • Michael Bartlett, Ph.D. Professor, Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences; Neuroscience
  • Haini Cai, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Cellular Biology; Neuroscience
  • Brett A Clementz, Ph.D. Professor, Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Director, BioImaging Research Center
  • Julie Coffield, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology; Toxicology; Neuroscience
  • David Crich, Ph.D. Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Affiliate Member, Center for Molecular Medicine.
  • Claire De La Serre, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences
  • Art Edison, Ph.D. GRA Eminent Scholar, CCRC, Professor of BMB/Genetics/IOB
  • Jonathan Eggenschwiler, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Genetics; Neuroscience
  • Travis Glenn, Ph.D. Professor, Bioinformatics; Toxicology
  • Tai L. Guo, Ph.D. Professor, Toxicology; Neuroscience
  • Robert Haltiwanger, Ph.D. Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Neuroscience GRA Eminent Scholar in Biomedical Glycosciences
  • Billy Hammond, Ph.D. Professor, Neuroscience
  • Gerald Hart, Ph.D. Professor and GRA Eminent Scholar, Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Member, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center
  • Shelley Hooks, Ph.D. Professor, Dept. of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Interim Associate Department Head for Research and Faculty Development, Associate Vice President, Office of the VPR
  • Jesse Hostetter, Ph.D. Professor and Chair of Pathology
  • Phil V Holmes, Ph.D. Professor, Behavioral and Brain Sciences Program, Dept of Psychology, Medical Partnership Faculty
  • Natalia Ivanova, Ph.D. Professor, Dept. of Genetics, Associate Member, Center for Molecular Medicine.
  • Daichi Kamiyama, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Cellular Biology; Neuroscience
  • Natarajan Kannan, Ph.D. Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Professor of the Institute of Bioinformatics
  • Lohitash Karumbaiah,
  • Ph.D. Professor, Department of Animal and Diary Science, member Regenerative Bioscience Center.
  • Eileen Kennedy, Ph.D. Dr. Samuel C. Benedict Professor, Interim Associate Department Head, Dept. of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences
  • James Lauderdale, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Cellular Biology; Neuroscience Program Chair
  • Dexi Liu, Ph.D. Professor, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences; Neuroscience
  • Tianming Liu, Ph.D. Professor, Bioinformatics; Neuroscience
  • Jennifer McDowell, Ph.D. Professor, Neuroscience
  • L. Stephen Miller, Ph.D. Director of Bio-imaging Research Center, Professor; Neuroscience
  • Jon Mochel, DVM. Ph.D. Professor, Pathology; Pharmacology and Neuroscience
  • Puliyur MohanKumar,
  • Ph.D. Meigs Professor, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences
  • Sheba MohanKumar,
  • Ph.D. Professor, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences
  • Emily Noble, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Nutritional Sciences
  • Karen Norris, Ph.D. Professor, Center for Vaccines and Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases, GRA Eminent Scholar in Immunology/Translational Biomedicine
  • Assaf Oshri, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Neuroscience
  • Lisa M. Renzi-Hammond.,Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Co-director of Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) Center
  • Arthur Roberts, Ph.D. Professor, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences; Toxicology
  • Jayshree Samanta, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Biomedical Sciences, Myelin disorders
  • Fabio Santori, Ph.D. Associate Research Scientist, Center for Molecular Medicine.
  • Walter K. Schmidt Jr., Ph.D. Professor, Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholar Biochemistry & molecular Biology; Neuroscience
  • Ping Shen, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Cellular Biology; Neuroscience
  • Steven Stice, Ph.D. Professor, GRA Eminent Scholar, Dept. of Animal and Dairy Science, Director of the Regenerative Bioscience Center
  • Anne Summers, Ph.D. Professor, Microbiology; Toxicology
  • Michael Tiemeyer, Ph.D. Distinguished Research Professor, Co-director, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, Interim Director, Center of Molecular Medicine
  • Lance Wells, Ph.D. Distinguished Research Professor and GRA Distinguished Investigator, Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Director of Integrated Life Sciences, Member of Complex Carbohydrate Research Center
  • Franklin West, Ph.D. Professor, Animal and Diary Science, Co-Chair, Regenerative Bioscience Center,
  • Catherine White, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences; Toxicology
  • Yao Yao, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Animal and Dairy Science, Member of the Regenerative Bioscience Center
  • Nada Zeltner, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Cellular Biology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Associate Member, Center for Molecular Medicine

Latest News

Anumantha Kanthasamy

Zeroing in on Parkinson’s: UGA takes multi-faceted approach to brain disease

For centuries, scientists have tried to crack the mystery of a devastating ailment once called “the shaking palsy.” But Parkinson’s disease, which causes tremors, muscle stiffness and difficulty walking, remains the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the United States after Alzheimer’s. About 1 million Americans have Parkinson’s, and more […]

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