The Villapol laboratory, or Brain Repair, Alzheimer’s, Inflammation & Neurorestoration Lab (BRAIN LAB), is committed to the investigation of various therapeutic approaches for the repair of brain damage resulting from trauma. Additionally, we are dedicated to the advancement of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

Our research primarily focuses on understanding the mechanisms of inflammation and neurodegeneration to develop innovative therapeutic strategies that reverse these processes and restore normal brain function.

Our research team actively explores methods to modulate peripheral signals and leverage the gut microbiome to support brain recovery. Furthermore, we harness cutting-edge technologies in neurorestorative treatments, including the utilization of nanoparticles designed to mitigate neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration associated with both brain injuries and Alzheimer’s pathology.

Our goal is to investigate cures for brain damage and for neurodegenerative diseases under a study platform that translates from animal models to patients.

Major Projects:

1. Microbiome modulation in Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury
2. Nanoparticles for neurological disease therapeutics
3. Gut microbiome as a clinical biomarker.

Interested in a Postdoctoral position in our lab? Check out our new Postdoctoral Training Program NIH T32 to study the connection between the brain and the periphery. Please send all inquiries and requests to svillapol@houstonmethodist.org

We are grateful for the R56 award from the National Institute on Aging for supporting our research on Alzheimer’s disease and brain injuries. We also thank the NFL Players Association for supporting our studies on Gut microbiome markers of sport-related brain concussion.

Outcomes Research: Gut Microbiota as a Therapeutic Target

Principal Investigator: Sonia Villlapol, Ph.D.

Associate Professor | Driving brain recovery & therapeutic Innovation | Neurorestorative treatments, Gut-brain axis & Nanotechnology for brain injury & Alzheimer’s.