Alex Kwan
@alexkwan.bsky.social
Professor at Cornell BME. Studying the neurobiology of psychiatric #drugs including #ketamine and #psychedelics.
https://alexkwanlab.org
https://alexkwanlab.org
Pinned
Alex Kwan
@alexkwan.bsky.social
· Aug 28
This was a fun piece to write for @cp-trendspharma.bsky.social
“The ABCs of Psychedelics: A Preclinical Roadmap for Drug Discovery” with John McCorvy and @jmantsch.bsky.social
www.cell.com/trends/pharm...
“The ABCs of Psychedelics: A Preclinical Roadmap for Drug Discovery” with John McCorvy and @jmantsch.bsky.social
www.cell.com/trends/pharm...
Beautiful “action potential” stained glass made by @laurenatlas.bsky.social
Picked 🔵 because it reminds me of our #ChR2 optotagging experiments 🤓🧪
Picked 🔵 because it reminds me of our #ChR2 optotagging experiments 🤓🧪
November 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Beautiful “action potential” stained glass made by @laurenatlas.bsky.social
Picked 🔵 because it reminds me of our #ChR2 optotagging experiments 🤓🧪
Picked 🔵 because it reminds me of our #ChR2 optotagging experiments 🤓🧪
Incredibly proud of Lingxiao Shao for receiving the prestigious Peter and Patricia Gruber International Research Award this year! 🎉🎉🎉
A true trailblazer who has been driving research on #psychedelic drug action in the brain. 🧠🧪
@sfn.org #SfN2025
A true trailblazer who has been driving research on #psychedelic drug action in the brain. 🧠🧪
@sfn.org #SfN2025
Congratulations to the 2025 SfN award & prize recipients!
Their dedication to advancing the understanding of the brain paves the way for future discoveries.
SfN looks forward to celebrating their achievements at #SfN25.
Learn about the recipients.
🔗 vist.ly/4cni8
#neurosky
Their dedication to advancing the understanding of the brain paves the way for future discoveries.
SfN looks forward to celebrating their achievements at #SfN25.
Learn about the recipients.
🔗 vist.ly/4cni8
#neurosky
November 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Incredibly proud of Lingxiao Shao for receiving the prestigious Peter and Patricia Gruber International Research Award this year! 🎉🎉🎉
A true trailblazer who has been driving research on #psychedelic drug action in the brain. 🧠🧪
@sfn.org #SfN2025
A true trailblazer who has been driving research on #psychedelic drug action in the brain. 🧠🧪
@sfn.org #SfN2025
Reposted by Alex Kwan
Many of our big insights into brain function come from trying to mimic it, writes @timothyoleary.bsky.social. This lesson should guide how we organize research programs.
www.thetransmitter.org/systems-neur...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/systems-neur...
#neuroskyence
Neuroscience needs engineers—for more reasons than you think
Adopting an engineering mindset will help the field focus its research priorities.
www.thetransmitter.org
November 3, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Many of our big insights into brain function come from trying to mimic it, writes @timothyoleary.bsky.social. This lesson should guide how we organize research programs.
www.thetransmitter.org/systems-neur...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/systems-neur...
#neuroskyence
Reposted by Alex Kwan
When #FluorescenceFriday falls on Halloween, we break out the spooky data 👻 Here we are looking at the blood vessels of a zebrafish through its eye 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
When #FluorescenceFriday falls on Halloween, we break out the spooky data 👻 Here we are looking at the blood vessels of a zebrafish through its eye 🎃
My department, Cornell BME, is hiring!
This tenure-track faculty position is a great opportunity to join a vibrant community that values research, teaching, and entrepreneurship.
📝 academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30816
This tenure-track faculty position is a great opportunity to join a vibrant community that values research, teaching, and entrepreneurship.
📝 academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30816
October 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
My department, Cornell BME, is hiring!
This tenure-track faculty position is a great opportunity to join a vibrant community that values research, teaching, and entrepreneurship.
📝 academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30816
This tenure-track faculty position is a great opportunity to join a vibrant community that values research, teaching, and entrepreneurship.
📝 academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30816
Preparing tomorrow’s visit to @tulanebrain.bsky.social @tulaneu.bsky.social by grabbing a muphuletta 😀 #NewOrleans
October 28, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Preparing tomorrow’s visit to @tulanebrain.bsky.social @tulaneu.bsky.social by grabbing a muphuletta 😀 #NewOrleans
Reposted by Alex Kwan
For #FluorescenceFriday - projection neurons from the mouse prefrontal cortex to the locus coeruleus 🔴 with Fos labeling activated cells 🟢. Image credit to the Circuits team in the Translational Neuroscience Division @lieberinstitute.bsky.social 🧠🔬🧪
October 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM
For #FluorescenceFriday - projection neurons from the mouse prefrontal cortex to the locus coeruleus 🔴 with Fos labeling activated cells 🟢. Image credit to the Circuits team in the Translational Neuroscience Division @lieberinstitute.bsky.social 🧠🔬🧪
Today I found the secret chess♟️spot at Cornell, with an unbeatable lake view
October 23, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Today I found the secret chess♟️spot at Cornell, with an unbeatable lake view
Reposted by Alex Kwan
🚨 New science alert! Our cross-species study, now in Nature Neuroscience, demonstrates psychedelics distort how we should interpret functional brain imaging.
👇🧵
nature.com/articles/s41...
#Neuroscience #Psychedelics #BrainImaging
👇🧵
nature.com/articles/s41...
#Neuroscience #Psychedelics #BrainImaging
Psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonism alters neurovascular coupling and differentially affects neuronal and hemodynamic measures of brain function
Nature Neuroscience - Padawer-Curry et al. show that the hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonist DOI alters neurovascular coupling in mice, with implications for the interpretation of human fMRI...
nature.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
🚨 New science alert! Our cross-species study, now in Nature Neuroscience, demonstrates psychedelics distort how we should interpret functional brain imaging.
👇🧵
nature.com/articles/s41...
#Neuroscience #Psychedelics #BrainImaging
👇🧵
nature.com/articles/s41...
#Neuroscience #Psychedelics #BrainImaging
This one hits close to home. Jim is my office neighbor. Absolutely devastating.
A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down.
This 4-year-old's heart is failing. A federal grant that might help him was canceled
A Cornell University researcher has been developing an artificial heart for children for more than 20 years. Now, his research is on hold and his lab is shut down.
n.pr
October 12, 2025 at 10:19 PM
This one hits close to home. Jim is my office neighbor. Absolutely devastating.
Reposted by Alex Kwan
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Finally out!!
Finally out!!
Psychedelic compounds directly excite 5-HT2A layer V medial prefrontal cortex neurons through 5-HT2A Gq activation - Translational Psychiatry
Translational Psychiatry - Psychedelic compounds directly excite 5-HT2A layer V medial prefrontal cortex neurons through 5-HT2A Gq activation
www.nature.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Finally out!!
Finally out!!
This is a beautiful paper showing reliable gene editing in single targeted neurons in the brain. 🧬🧠
The results are striking. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen such an elegant study.
The results are striking. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen such an elegant study.
Gene editing of single, targeted neurons in vivo is now feasible. We are proud to present our preprint for highly efficient single-cell electroporation using RNA. With @alex-fratzl.bsky.social, @munzlab.bsky.social, Botond Roska @iobswiss.bsky.social
#neuroskyence
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroskyence
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In vivo single-cell gene editing using RNA electroporation reveals sequential adaptation of cortical neurons to excitatory-inhibitory imbalance
The balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission is fundamental for normal brain function, yet the adaptation of individual neurons to disrupted excitatory-inhibitory balance is not wel...
www.biorxiv.org
October 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
This is a beautiful paper showing reliable gene editing in single targeted neurons in the brain. 🧬🧠
The results are striking. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen such an elegant study.
The results are striking. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen such an elegant study.
Reposted by Alex Kwan
@deffinger.bsky.social and @melissaherman.bsky.social argue that, though many human psychedelic clinical trials are underway, preclinical studies remain our best bet to answer fundamental questions about the neurobiology of psychedelics.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
Why we need basic science to better understand the neurobiology of psychedelics
Despite the many psychedelics clinical trials underway, there is still much we don’t know about how these drugs work. Preclinical studies represent our best viable avenue to answer these lingering…
www.thetransmitter.org
October 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM
@deffinger.bsky.social and @melissaherman.bsky.social argue that, though many human psychedelic clinical trials are underway, preclinical studies remain our best bet to answer fundamental questions about the neurobiology of psychedelics.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
Reposted by Alex Kwan
Latest imaging data from our completely re-designed ExA-SPIM system.
Expansion-assisted imaging (3X expansion, 0.3 NA) enables brain-wide imaging with high-contrast and <400 nm effective resolution.
Expansion-assisted imaging (3X expansion, 0.3 NA) enables brain-wide imaging with high-contrast and <400 nm effective resolution.
September 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Latest imaging data from our completely re-designed ExA-SPIM system.
Expansion-assisted imaging (3X expansion, 0.3 NA) enables brain-wide imaging with high-contrast and <400 nm effective resolution.
Expansion-assisted imaging (3X expansion, 0.3 NA) enables brain-wide imaging with high-contrast and <400 nm effective resolution.
Reposted by Alex Kwan
Updated funding curve (with two weeks to go in the fiscal year)
(Posted on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... )
(Posted on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... )
September 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Updated funding curve (with two weeks to go in the fiscal year)
(Posted on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... )
(Posted on jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... )
Reposted by Alex Kwan
Excited to highlight a new paper from my graduate student Sergio Bernal Garcia who, together withLuke Hammond, developed RESPAN, a new deep-learning pipeline automating the segmentation of neuronal morphology and dendritic spines from fluorescent microscopy images:
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
A deep learning pipeline for accurate and automated restoration, segmentation, and quantification of dendritic spines
Garcia et al. present RESPAN, a pipeline that enables automated dendritic spine analysis
through seamless integration of deep learning image restoration and segmentation capabilities
with comprehensiv...
www.cell.com
September 21, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Excited to highlight a new paper from my graduate student Sergio Bernal Garcia who, together withLuke Hammond, developed RESPAN, a new deep-learning pipeline automating the segmentation of neuronal morphology and dendritic spines from fluorescent microscopy images:
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Alex Kwan
SCN2A loss is strongly linked to neurodevelopmental delays and, at times, seizure. In an amazing collaboration with @nadavahituv.bsky.social, led by Serena Tamura, Andrew Nelson, and Perry Spratt, we leveraged CRISPR activator approaches to rescue this loss.
rdcu.be/eGU0W
rdcu.be/eGU0W
CRISPR activation for SCN2A-related neurodevelopmental disorders
Nature - Using SCN2A haploinsufficiency as a proof-of-concept, upregulation of the existing functional gene copy through CRISPR activation was able to rescue neurological-associated phenotypes in...
rdcu.be
September 17, 2025 at 6:27 PM
SCN2A loss is strongly linked to neurodevelopmental delays and, at times, seizure. In an amazing collaboration with @nadavahituv.bsky.social, led by Serena Tamura, Andrew Nelson, and Perry Spratt, we leveraged CRISPR activator approaches to rescue this loss.
rdcu.be/eGU0W
rdcu.be/eGU0W
It was fun to host Lucas Pinto at for our department seminar last week.
Lucas showed a new VR task combining evidence accumulation and delay-match-to-sample. Mice did the task using near-orthogonal coding scheme across cortical regions
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Lucas showed a new VR task combining evidence accumulation and delay-match-to-sample. Mice did the task using near-orthogonal coding scheme across cortical regions
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
It was fun to host Lucas Pinto at for our department seminar last week.
Lucas showed a new VR task combining evidence accumulation and delay-match-to-sample. Mice did the task using near-orthogonal coding scheme across cortical regions
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Lucas showed a new VR task combining evidence accumulation and delay-match-to-sample. Mice did the task using near-orthogonal coding scheme across cortical regions
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alex Kwan
Excited to share this super comprehensive review of psychedelic research in NHPs! W/ Alex Kwan. This work was by our grad student Jamie who is passionate about psychedelics. Her in-depth knowledge is impressive as reflected here.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Psychedelic studies in nonhuman primates: Past and future
Molecular Psychiatry - Psychedelic studies in nonhuman primates: Past and future
www.nature.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Excited to share this super comprehensive review of psychedelic research in NHPs! W/ Alex Kwan. This work was by our grad student Jamie who is passionate about psychedelics. Her in-depth knowledge is impressive as reflected here.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Glad to have shared with high school students about opportunities at the intersection of neuroscience 🧠 and engineering 🖥️, as part of this @danafoundation.bsky.social seminar series.
The talk is now available on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuRy...
The talk is now available on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuRy...
September 12, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Glad to have shared with high school students about opportunities at the intersection of neuroscience 🧠 and engineering 🖥️, as part of this @danafoundation.bsky.social seminar series.
The talk is now available on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuRy...
The talk is now available on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuRy...
Reposted by Alex Kwan
🚀 NY-CURES Launch — Championing State-Wide Investment in Science! 🚀
Our new coalition advocates for sustained public support of New York’s vibrant biomedical research ecosystem — creating cures, economic gains & strengthening communities.
Sign up. Stay informed. Join the movement: www.nycures.org/
Our new coalition advocates for sustained public support of New York’s vibrant biomedical research ecosystem — creating cures, economic gains & strengthening communities.
Sign up. Stay informed. Join the movement: www.nycures.org/
September 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
🚀 NY-CURES Launch — Championing State-Wide Investment in Science! 🚀
Our new coalition advocates for sustained public support of New York’s vibrant biomedical research ecosystem — creating cures, economic gains & strengthening communities.
Sign up. Stay informed. Join the movement: www.nycures.org/
Our new coalition advocates for sustained public support of New York’s vibrant biomedical research ecosystem — creating cures, economic gains & strengthening communities.
Sign up. Stay informed. Join the movement: www.nycures.org/
Reposted by Alex Kwan
Two flagship papers from the International Brain Laboratory, now out in @Nature.com:
🧠 Brain-wide map of neural activity during complex behaviour: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09235-0
🧠 Brain-wide representations of prior information in mouse decision-making: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09226-1 +
🧠 Brain-wide map of neural activity during complex behaviour: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09235-0
🧠 Brain-wide representations of prior information in mouse decision-making: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09226-1 +
September 3, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Two flagship papers from the International Brain Laboratory, now out in @Nature.com:
🧠 Brain-wide map of neural activity during complex behaviour: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09235-0
🧠 Brain-wide representations of prior information in mouse decision-making: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09226-1 +
🧠 Brain-wide map of neural activity during complex behaviour: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09235-0
🧠 Brain-wide representations of prior information in mouse decision-making: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09226-1 +
At Dave Putnam's legendary drug formulation and delivery class. @cornellengineering.bsky.social
A treat for me to be a student again this semester. 📚
A treat for me to be a student again this semester. 📚
September 2, 2025 at 5:15 PM
At Dave Putnam's legendary drug formulation and delivery class. @cornellengineering.bsky.social
A treat for me to be a student again this semester. 📚
A treat for me to be a student again this semester. 📚
Reposted by Alex Kwan
We watched mice follow scent trails drawn on an “endless” treadmill. By manipulating trail geometry/statistics, perturbing mouse nose & brain, and modeling behavior with a Bayesian framework, we show that mice use predictive (rather than reactive) strategies.
September 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
We watched mice follow scent trails drawn on an “endless” treadmill. By manipulating trail geometry/statistics, perturbing mouse nose & brain, and modeling behavior with a Bayesian framework, we show that mice use predictive (rather than reactive) strategies.