Michael Bienkowski, PhD

Dr. Bienkowski is interested in characterizing brain cell types and understanding their susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases like Alhzeimer’s disease and retinal degenerative diseases. His translational research laboratory (USC Center for Integrative Connectomics) uses state-of-the-art connectomics and transcriptomics approaches to investigate cell type-specific progressive changes to gene expression and connectivity in rodent and human brain tissue. A major goal of the lab is to build translational cell type atlases to guide clinical drug development and enhance the effectiveness of treatment plans at progressive disease stages.

• Multiscale Modeling of Hippocampus Vulnerability to Alzheimer's Disease Neurodegeneration.
  NIH · R01AG092662 · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2030 · Role: Principal Investigator
• A Translational 3D Map of Hippocampal Cell Types To Drive Investigations of Alzheimer's Disease
  NIH · K01AG066847 · Aug 1, 2021 – Jul 31, 2026 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers
  NIH · P30AG066530 · Sep 1, 2020 – Mar 31, 2030 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Structural and Functional Neural Network Mediating Fear Memory and PTSD
  NIH · F32MH107071 · Sep 16, 2015 – Sep 15, 2017 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Thompson, Paul
• Toga, Arthur
• Tao, Huizhong
• Peterson, Bradley
• Rissman, Robert
• Jahanshad, Neda