nakamura lab

Dr. Nakamura’s research focuses on the normal functioning of mitochondria—the “power centers” of cells—which convert nutrients into energy. He also studies how disrupting mitochondria contributes to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Harrison is a California native from Sonoma County. He truly began his focused scientific career while at UC Davis under Dr. La Torre, who studied neuronal degeneration in the context of glaucoma. Graduating with a BS in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior in 2020 led to an opportunity to work under Dr. Lisa Ellerby at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. There, Harrison focused on age-related diseases specific to the brain such as Alzheimer’s, Huntingtin’s and Parkinson’s, gaining experience with mouse models and the various tasks and procedures for studies. Taking advantage of the Buck Institute’s partnership with Dominican University of California, Harrison was able to pursue an MS in Biological Sciences degree under the supervision of Drs. Lisa Ellerby, Claudio Hetz, and Danilo Medinas, graduating in 2024. Interested in utilizing iPSC and/or mouse models to uncover connections between cell-, tissue-, and organ-types, specifically how the nervous system is influenced by and influences other biological systems, especially in a temporal context. Outside of biology, some activities include fishing, video games, wine tasting, fish tank keeping, and improving at plant-parenting.

Bret received his BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley. He is currently investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, and hopes to contribute to important therapeutic discoveries. Outside of the lab, Bret was a competitive rower and competed for the UC Berkeley and US Men's National teams. He loves to watch soccer and is currently on the hunt for the best burrito in San Francisco.

I am an MSTP student interested in neurodegenerative disorders. Previously, I studied at Palomar Community College and then transferred to UCLA as a Regent Scholar to study Neuroscience and Biochemistry with a minor in Iranian Studies. During my undergraduate studies, I researched the role of reactive oxygen species in the proliferation of glioblastoma in Dr. Kornblum’s lab at UCLA. After graduation, I moved to Maryland to research ALS at the National Institutes of Health as an NIH Undergraduate Research Scholar. I worked in Dr. Avindra Nath’s lab at NINDS for three years before starting my MD-PhD program at UCSF in 2021. I am interested in neurodegenerative disease and want to pursue neurology for my medical specialty. I joined the Nakamura lab in 2023 to study the role of metabolism in different types of neurodegenerative disorders, including ALS/FTD and PD.

I'm from Japan and obtained an M.D. and Ph.D. from Asahikawa Medical University. Previously, with clinical experience as a neurologist, I worked on Pericytes-focused peripheral tissue regeneration research in In Vivo. From the perspective of tissue regeneration, I was interested in central nervous system regeneration in neurodegenerative diseases. I was deeply impressed with Nakamura lab's research on Parkinson's disease and started research on the theme of alpha-synuclein. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing the guitar, going on trips, and attending music festivals.

I grew up in Shenyang, China and moved to Santa Monica, California during high school. I double-majored in Chemistry and Mathematics at Williams College and completed my undergraduate thesis in organic synthesis. With the help of a Herchel Smith Predoctoral Fellowship, I then went to University of Cambridge, where I obtained my PhD in Biophysical Chemistry. My research has primarily focused on the effects of post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation on protein misfolding and cytotoxicity. I joined the Nakamura Lab to gain a more nuanced understanding of mitochondrial biology and pathology in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. When I am not in the lab, I like reading, traveling, photography, and spending time with my cats.

I was born in Savannah, Georgia and raised in the south until moving to Colorado to study Molecular Biology and Physics at Colorado College. I started research science my senior year of High School and spent my undergraduate career finding my passion within molecular mechanisms and cell biology. My experience with research and science led me to join the Tetrad Graduate Program at UCSF where I am currently a PhD student here in the Nakamura Lab. Outside of the lab, I enjoy art, sweet treats, good views, exercise, and the occasional video game.

I grew up in rural Colorado before obtaining my ScB in Neuroscience at Brown University. During my undergraduate years, I did research related to axon guidance and characterization of a mouse model of ALS, which led me to my interest in neurodegenerative diseases. My primary focus in the Nakamura lab is to study mechanisms of midbrain neurodegeneration and selective vulnerability in Parkinson’s disease. Outside the lab, I enjoy crafting, playing the violin and viola, and exploring San Francisco and the Bay Area.

I obtained my PhD at UCLA in the lab of Dr. Lindsay De Biase. My thesis work focused on investigating age and disease-related changes in the mitochondria of microglia in the basal ganglia. I joined the Nakamura lab to expand my understanding of mitochondrial biology, metabolism, and pathology in the context of multiple cell types and in neurodegenerative disease. Outside of the lab, I enjoy getting out into nature, reading, and exploring the area.

I am most interested in understanding disease pathology and the development of new technologies that enable the discovery of novel therapeutics. I completed a BS in Mechanical Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University and a PhD in Bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. My work focused on the development of microfluidic technologies to mimic the physiological conditions of cardiovascular disease and to monitor vascular cell responses to engineered high-density lipoproteins. My other projects focused on high-density lipoprotein heterogeneity and its role in neurodegenerative diseases. Interested in exploring the depths of neurodegenerative diseases, I joined the Nakamura Lab in 2020 to probe cellular energy irregularities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. My hobbies include tennis, video games, cooking, and playing the piano.

I grew up in Isabela, a small beach town in Puerto Rico. I obtained my bachelor’s degree at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras in Cellular and Molecular Biology. During those years, I was a fellow of the NIH-Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences. I became very interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying neurological diseases, aiming to improve and develop treatments. That led me to join the Neuroscience Graduate Program at UCSF in 2020, where I am currently a student in the Nakamura lab. Here, I am studying the molecular mechanisms of energy metabolism in neurons and how these processes are disrupted in neurodegeneration. I’m also passionate about outreach programs for increasing diversity and I plan on actively contributing to a more inclusive scientific community during my years as a graduate student. In my free time, I like to do yoga, exercise, go on road trips, and travel.

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona before uprooting to the east coast for undergrad at MIT, where I double majored in Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Biology. I spent most of my college years in labs researching chronic stress and alcoholism. Following graduation, I stuck around Boston for a couple years at MGH to develop optimized methods for multi-photon imaging in Alzheimer’s rodent models. I have a strong interest in neurodegenerative disorders, with a focus on correlations between metabolism, diet, and Alzheimer’s disease. In my free time, I love playing and learning new instruments, traveling, and camping out at cafes.

I come from a very small country in Southeast Europe, North Macedonia, where I obtained my MD degree. As my interests shifted towards science, I pursued an MSc in Molecular Medicine (major in Neuroscience), at the University of Tübingen in Germany, where my work focused on functional neuroanatomy in fear-related brain circuits. I then obtained my PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, where I performed biomarker discovery in a preclinical model of Huntington’s disease, using multimodal MRI techniques and immunofluorescence. Recently, I started my postdoctoral training at UCSF, working on brain energy metabolism in health and disease, using in-vivo hyperpolarized MRI. I subsequently joined the Nakamura lab, which has broad expertise in the field of energy metabolism in neurodegenerative disease. In my free time, I enjoy reading, going to concerts, hiking, and exploring.