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Neuro-Muscular Labs, a multi-lab neuroscience collective, is dedicated to unraveling the complexities of the nervous and muscular systems through a deeply collaborative and integrative approach. By uniting expertise in molecular biology, cellular neuroscience, and systems-level investigations, our researchers work together to understand how fundamental processes break down in neuromuscular and neurological diseases.
Across our labs, there is a strong focus on uncovering the mechanisms of axon degeneration, myelin instability, and age-related changes that drive disease onset and progression. This shared commitment to bridging basic science with translational research enables us to identify novel therapeutic targets and inform the development of innovative interventions.
Our teams are driven by a mission to translate discoveries from bench to bedside, ultimately improving outcomes for patients facing debilitating neuromuscular and neurological conditions. Through cutting-edge techniques, ranging from advanced imaging and genetic manipulation to preclinical modeling and clinical trial integration, we generate insights that not only advance fundamental scientific understanding but also have immediate relevance for therapy development.
Our emphasis on collaboration not only accelerates scientific discovery but also strengthens the training and mentorship of the next generation of neuroscientists. At Neuro-Muscular Labs, we believe that working seamlessly across disciplines and scales is essential to solving the intricate puzzle of neuromuscular diseases and delivering tangible impact for the individuals and families we aim to serve.
Advanced Imaging
Electrophysiology and Functional Analysis
Disease Model Across Scales
W. David Arnold, MD
Professor and NextGen Executive Director
Translational Neuromuscular Physiology
Smita Saxena, PhD
Professor
Neuronal and Circuit Vulnerability in Disease
Hiroshi Nishimune, PhD
Professor
NMJ Development and Degeneration
Ryan Castoro, DO
Assistant Professor
Proprioception and Peripheral Nerve Aging
Bornali Kundu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Memory Networks and Brain Stimulation
Kathryn Moss, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dysmyelinating Neuropathy Mechanisms
Curtis Nutter, PhD
Assistant Professor
RNA Repeat Expansion Neurological Disease
Andrea Sierra Delgado, MD
Assistant Professor
Gene Therapy for Rare Neurological Disease
Kristina Kelly, DPT
Assistant Professor
Weakness and Fatigue in Aging and Disease
Best Basic Research Poster Award
Oct 7, 2025
Dr. Smita Saxena received the Best Basic Research Poster Award at the recent 2025 Northeast Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (NEALS) Annual Meeting held in Clearwater, Florida. Poster title: “Talineuren (TLN): A GM1-Loaded Nanoliposomal Therapeutic Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Proteostasis in ALS”.
Reduced cortico-muscular output is associated with intrinsic hypoexcitability and reduced persistent inward currents in motor cortex neurons of TDP-43Q331K ALS mice
Jan 5, 2026
Dr. Arnold and lab members study examines how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects neuronal function in the motor cortex and how these changes relate to impaired muscle control - using a TDP-43^Q331K mouse model that mimics key features of ALS.
The Neuromuscular Junction: A Shared Vulnerability in Aging and Disease
Nov 12, 2025
This review highlights shared and disease-specific mechanisms contributing to NMJ impairment, including presynaptic, postsynaptic, and perisynaptic Schwann cell defects in these diseases. We also discuss age-related changes at the NMJ, emphasizing its role in sarcopenia and muscle weakness in older adults. Furthermore, we explore emerging molecular drivers of NMJ dysfunction uncovered through studies in congenital myasthenic syndromes, autoimmune disorders, and advanced omics approaches.
Neuromuscular Study Group Annual Meeting
Several of our researchers attended the 2025 Neuromuscular Study Group 26th Annual Scientific Meeting held in Stresa, Italy. The Neuromuscular Study Group (NMSG) is a consortium of scientific investigators from academic and research centers who are committed to the cooperative planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting of controlled clinical trials and other research for muscle and other neuromuscular diseases.
