Welcome to the HAYES Lab

Mission Statement

Cultivate observant scientists that explore the mysteries of brain development and neuro-immune influences that impact human health.

Main Question

How does microglia activation impact brain development, function, and risk for neurodevelopmental and neurologic disorders?

Microglia are the primary brain immune cells and perform many functions that impact both normal cognitive health and disease-associated neuroinflammation. Infiltration of microglia occurs early in brain development and these cells are maintained throughout life. The continual adaptations of microglia to environmental cues and accumulation of stress exposures across life implicate them in both developmental and degenerative disorders. Microglia are highly influential cells in the brain microenvironment and a promising target for disease mechanisms, but there remains a critical gap in knowledge for how microglia are specialized and regulated before we can develop targeted therapeutics to specific microglia activation states depending on the clinical pathology. Understanding the basic biology of microglia patterning and reactivity can provide valuable insights into disease mechanisms.

The main research questions are:

  1. How do microglia respond and recover from immune activation?
  2. How does previous activation exposure shape future reactivity?
  3. How do heterogeneous microglia activation states impact human disease?

Find more details about the lab philosophy, ongoing projects, and publications. Find out more about me and my teaching and mentoring experiences here.

We are looking for passionate and curious trainees to join the team (more info)!

News

August 15, 2024

The Hayes lab recieved a NOA for a K01 awarded to Dr. Hayes

June 1, 2024

The lab wecomes Taylor Carlson a research associate and resident animal wrangler!

May 24, 2024

The Hayes lab recieved its first Notice of Award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund! New microglia work on the way!

May 17, 2024

The lab welcomes our first graduate student Sydney Camfield!

March 29, 2024

Second Data The lab is making data! Thanks rotation students Felix & Sydney.

January 31, 2024

Hayes Lab Sign Posted Thanks for the gift Dr. Kano @ UAB

December 2-7, 2023

Lindsay Presents at ACNP in Tampa, FL

December 1, 2023

Hayes Lab Officially Opens

... see all News