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.

I was brought up in Nigeria, where I obtained my MBBS and Masters in Physiology from the University of Ilorin and Obafemi Awolowo University, respectively. I completed my PhD in Physiology, Neuroscience option at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 2019. Previously, I worked on a transgenerational epigenetic study on the effects of prolonged febrile seizure, and the link between prolonged febrile seizure and epilepsy. I joined the Nakamura lab at Gladstone to delve deeper into the fascinating world of neuroscience, and am currently studying metabolism and protein aggregation. Outside of the lab, I love travelling and exploring new places, which gives me the opportunity to make friends.

I come from Texas, graduated from Princeton University, and received my PhD from Rutgers University. The focus of my work was largely on stem cell transplantation-based and immune-modulating therapeutics for Parkinson's disease. In the course of this research, I identified design parameters for synthetic scaffolds that contribute to successful transplantation of human neurons into the brain. Joining the Nakamura lab has given me the opportunity to better my understanding of how bioenergetics and metabolism contribute to neurodegenerative disease, and how to identify therapeutic targets within these pathways. In my leisure time, I like to cook and maintain my food science blog, go to the gym, and sometimes camp, draw or paint.

I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and went to UC Berkeley for my undergrad, where I earned degrees in Psychology and Molecular and Cell Biology in 2022. While there, I did research on oxidative stress and its connection to sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s disease. I developed a deep interest in research on neurodegenerative diseases, which led me to the Nakamura lab, where I am grateful for the opportunity to work on projects related to how metabolic processes are regulated, and then potentially altered in the context of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Outside of the lab, I like watching movies, knitting, and finding new restaurants in the Bay Area.

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 Irvine, California and graduated in 2021 from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Biopsychology. At UCSB, I became interested in how various epigenetic factors can alter the expression of genes that might contribute to disease. In the Nakamura lab, I am working on projects observing and targeting metabolic changes in neurons to better understand neurodegenerative diseases. Working at Gladstone has given me an encouraging space to learn and grow as I hope to eventually obtain my PhD. In my free time, I love exploring new restaurants in SF, hiking, reading, and playing tennis.

Before joining Ken Nakamura’s lab at Gladstone, I earned a PhD in cell biology at Wuhan University in 2015 where my major work was about mitochondrial dynamics and the molecular mechanism of the mitochondrial cristae junction complex—MICOS. Now I am working on metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease. I love doing biological experiments, especially finding and solving problems, and the great sense of accomplishment that it brings. Exploring unknown areas is so fascinating and amazing. I also love being at Gladstone. Everyone here is so warm-hearted and cooperative. It’s also wonderful to live in San Francisco, which is quite beautiful and has its own unique atmosphere.

I am from Taipei, Taiwan, and graduated from National Taiwan University. I came to California to pursue my graduate studies. Before joining the Nakamura lab, I spent years studying nutritional science and endocrinology, especially skeletal muscle metabolism. I’m fascinated by aging biology, and I’m particularly interested in understanding how mitochondrial dysfunction can lead to multiple tissue degeneration. Thus, I continue my journey here at the Gladstone Institutes, and my current project is to delineate and understand the differential energy requirements of dopamine neurons. Outside the lab, I enjoy dancing, reading, playing the piano, and yoga.

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 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 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 grew up in Berkeley, California, and I am currently an undergraduate student at Northeastern University in Boston. At Northeastern, I am a behavioral neuroscience major with a philosophy minor. This semester, I am completing a 6-month co-op in the Nakamura lab, researching the role of neural activity and selective vulnerability of dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s disease. In my free time, I love performing musical theatre, visiting museums, traveling, and hiking.

I earned my MD from Tohoku University School of Medicine in 2022. Prior to this, I worked in the Edwin L. Steele Laboratories at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital as a full-time student researcher from 2018–2019, and was subsequently awarded a Masason Foundation Fellowship. Prior to joining the Nakamura lab, my research focused on the molecular pathology of cancer. This experience triggered my curiosity and interest in mitochondria, and how their functions are disrupted in disease. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and watching baseball.

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.