The Smith Lab

Lab of Dr @NathanASmith1. We investigate astrocytic modulation of synaptic circuits in normal and disease brains 🧠 🔬@URochester_SMD @URNeuroscience

[The Smith Lab @SmithLab2018]

Astrocyte In layer 2/3 expressing #GCaMP5 in vivo #awake #astrocytes #calciumsignaling #neuroscience #research #science

[Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience @URNeuroscience]

Congratulations to Dr. Maiken Nedergaard! She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine for her discovery of the glymphatic system, which has reshaped scientists’ understanding of how the brain clears waste and the critical role of sleep💤

How does she approach her own sleep? Read how her research shapes her daily routines, what she’s learned about sleep, and why protecting sleep is essential for brain health 👉 https://t.co/LBh1PZnxIh

[Dr. Nathan A. Smith @NathanASmith1]

Congratulations to this year Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

[The Nobel Prize @NobelPrize]

BREAKING NEWS
The 2026 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.”

[John J. Foxe @JohnnyFoxe]

First paper from my lab to hit 2000 citations (15 years later, it picks up a citation every single day on average) - rejected from at least 2 other journals (haha).
@URNeuroscience
https://t.co/OkRPXPe188

[Jason Shepherd @JasonSynaptic]

Was great to be back on TWiN to talk about our latest work on tau transmission!

[John Lukens @LukensJohnR]

A TMEM119-tankyrase axis restrains microglial phagocytosis to maintain memory and enables pharmacological forgetting. @NeuroCellPress https://t.co/jv2e4tefcM

[Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience @URNeuroscience]

First @UofR & @RCSD summer program alumni enter URochester as students. Two alumni of this program, who are now freshmen at URochester, shared more about their journey: https://t.co/PqdND2Cuzp #URochesterResearch

[Dr. Nathan A. Smith @NathanASmith1]

What a day!!! 🎉 Over 170 of us gathered for our 4th Annual Celebration for Learners, our biggest yet. Huge thanks to @URochester_SMD GEPA and our community sponsors for making it happen. Already looking forward to next year.

[Dr. Nathan A. Smith @NathanASmith1]

🚨 Last call! @URNeuroscience Neuroscience Commission NeuroYES 2026-2027 applications close tomorrow, August 14. Postdocs entering the job market — don’t let this one pass you by. https://t.co/Ofo08B1zKy

[Dr. Nathan A. Smith @NathanASmith1]

Every year astrocytes look less like glue and more like the thing doing the work. Case in point: astrocyte primary cilia in the amygdala as a stress target — and a possible treatment route via S1PR1.

[Tess Dierckx @TessDierckx]

How does aging impair OPC function? The core circadian factor BMAL1 is disrupted in aging and MS, driving metabolic deficits, senescence, and altered time-of-day dynamics. Exciting part? Time-based BMAL1-SIRT2 targeting optimizes demyelination recovery. https://t.co/vBTebA9bvm

[Ismail Ahmed @iaahmed123]

Our lab was awarded a 3 year Brain Initiative R21 to develop a pipeline for predicting where to cage neuropeptides. Looking for a postdoc with expertise in docking and cell culture. (See NIH reporter link in comments for more details). Please share!

[University of Rochester Medicine @UR_Med]

Can air pollution affect your brain? 🧠

Air pollution doesn't just affect your lungs. Research suggests that ultrafine particles can also affect your brain, potentially contributing to learning difficulties in children and increasing the risk of dementia in older adults.

[Dr. Nathan A. Smith @NathanASmith1]

🗓️Nine days left! Postdocs entering the job market: applications for @URNeuroscience Neuroscience Commission NeuroYES
2026-2027 close August 14. Click the link below to find out more! https://t.co/SJ423xV6t3

[University of Rochester Medicine @UR_Med]

Why participate in a clinical trial? It comes down to one thing: helping move medicine forward. Every treatment, medication, and breakthrough starts with research. And research starts with people.

Clinical trials at URochester Medicine: https://t.co/oQ4M6yHnpJ

[Dr. Nathan A. Smith @NathanASmith1]

The European Journal of Neuroscience at the FENS Forum 2026 https://t.co/jolRX3AeZk via @YouTube

[Ismail Ahmed @iaahmed123]

Excited to announce we got an @NIDAnews AVENIR DP1 grant.

We are looking for a postdoc to join the group!

[The Smith Lab @SmithLab2018]

@iaahmed123 @NIDAnews Congratulations 🎉

[Ishmail Abdus-Saboor @IshmailSaboor]

Big news! Congratulations @iaahmed123! If you're interested in chemical biology tools for studying body-brain physiology get in touch with Ismail.

[Dr. Nathan A. Smith @NathanASmith1]

Six years ago today, we lost a giant.

I’ll never forget meeting Congressman John Lewis — his warmth and humility in a chance airport encounter left a mark I’ll carry forever.

“You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone—any person or any force—dampen, dim or diminish your light.”

Rest well, Congressman. Your legacy lives on. 🙏

#GoodTrouble #JohnLewis