The lab of Dr. Rita Cowell is housed in the Department of Neurology and the Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Cowell has managed an independent research laboratory as a professor at UAB (2006-2017, 2022-present) and as the Chair of Neuroscience at Southern Research (2017-2022). At the core of the lab’s mission is to increase understanding of neuron type-specific processes for mitochondrial and lysosomal regulation to elucidate mechanisms of age-related cell death and devise novel strategies to prevent neurodegeneration.
SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS
● To identify the underlying mechanistic contributors to neuron dysfunction and loss with age which are shared across different disorders
● To prioritize genes associated with disease risk to develop better models for understanding mechanisms of disease
● To elucidate novel characteristics of neurons vulnerable to disease, especially Parkinson Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Huntington Disease, using transcriptomics and other methods in mouse models
RESEARCH CULTURE MISSIONS
● To welcome all scientists, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender
● To establish a safe environment for self-expression, communication and mutual respect
● To build a culture of healthy productivity: WORK HARD AND PLAY NICE
● To communicate ideas and concepts clearly in the lab and the scientific community
● To promote collaboration amongst labs and universities
TRAINING MISSIONS
● To provide a welcoming environment for learning about neuroscience tools, techniques, and concepts
● To encourage free sharing of scientific ideas and hypotheses
● To provide opportunities for career development and peer mentoring
● To foster rigorous critical thinking and experimental design, without bias
● To guide trainees in scientific writing and communication
