From bench to community: The Madhavan Lab brings Parkinson’s research into conversation
The Madhavan Lab offers students and postdocs valuable opportunities to engage the public and sharpen their communication skills.
Making strides in Parkinson’s disease research both in the lab and the community, the Madhavan Lab — led by Lalitha Madhavan, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology — blends innovative science with outreach into retirement communities and schools made possible in part through funding from a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. Students and postdocs help to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world impact, recognizing that true scientific training goes beyond technical skills — emphasizing compassion, clear communication and meaningful human connection.
Dr. Lalitha Madhavan organizes and oversees annual outreach programs to K-12 students and older adults, involving her trainees to put a face on the communities their research ultimately benefits.
“This community outreach program is part of the ‘broader impacts’ portion of my NSF grant, and is a great experience for students and postdocs,” Dr. Madhavan said. “Such outreach provides information, resources and support to improve the lives of individuals with PD, and their families and caregivers, while also advancing understanding of the disease.”
This is a yearly program, led by Dr. Madhavan, which involves a public talk and interactions with the local senior community.
“Given the focus of our research on aging and neurodegeneration, it is natural for us to engage with seniors,” she said. “It has provided a way to share the excitement and importance of neuroscience and stem cell research with a mature and interested community. In turn, these interactions have further motivated and informed my own research.”
Postdoctoral researchers Atsushi Ishii, PhD, and Kelsey Bernard, PhD, are part of the charge in both research and outreach. Their active participation in events at SaddleBrooke, a 55+ community north of Tucson, reflects the Madhavan Lab’s mission to connect science with lived experience — and to uphold community voices in shaping research priorities.
Along the way, they are also inspired by patients and families, who remind them why they plug away in the lab every day.
Connecting the community with science
As a part of the lab, Dr. Ishii takes time to engage directly with the public.
“Outreach events like SaddleBrooke create a space where science meets real life,” Dr. Ishii said. “Community members ask questions that challenge us to think more deeply about the impact of our work — and how we explain it.”
Dr. Atsushi Ishii says community outreach is meaningful because it “[helps] us reflect on how we communicate and why our work matters beyond the lab.”
Dr. Ishii’s research focuses on two key projects aimed at advancing Parkinson’s treatment. One explores a migraine drug targeting the 5-HT1F serotonin receptor for its potential to boost mitochondrial function and protect neurons. His team works to bridge basic science with future clinical applications. The second project examines how aging and sex differences impact brain health, particularly through the antioxidant transcription factor protein Nrf2 and its role in neural stem cell regeneration.
Working in the Madhavan Lab has reinforced his belief in the power of collaborative science.
“We support each other,” he says. “Whether it’s molecular biology or mentoring students, it’s a team effort. That’s what makes this work deeply meaningful.”
Dr. Ishii carries that same sense of purpose into his community outreach.
“Community members ask questions that help us reflect on how we communicate, and why our work matters beyond the lab,” he said. “I want people to know progress is happening, and it’s happening right here in Tucson.”
Listening, learning and advancing Parkinson’s care
Dr. Bernard studies Parkinson’s disease at the cellular level, reprogramming skin cells from patients into dopamine neurons — the type affected in PD — to observe how these cells differ from healthy controls.
Dr. Kelsey Bernard says leaving the lab to interact with community members is a reminder that “real people are at the heart of our work.”
“Understanding these differences helps us identify potential new targets and pathways involved in the disease,” she explains. “We’re investigating a therapeutic — PNA5 — that shows promise in reducing cognitive symptoms.”
With support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the team is now testing the treatment’s effectiveness and identifying biomarkers to advance it toward potential clinical trials.
But her impact goes beyond the lab. For Dr. Bernard, community connection is equally vital. She says her conversations with SaddleBrooke residents, including local support group Q&A, have significantly shaped her research perspective.
“These talks highlight symptoms like cognitive decline and chronic pain that often get overshadowed by motor issues. It reminds us that real people are at the heart of our work,” Dr. Bernard said. “These talks help bridge the gap between researchers and the public. It’s a way for people to see where their tax dollars are going and to demystify what happens behind the scenes in research.”
That real-world connection fuels her commitment to patient-relevant research.
“You can read literature and know stats, but when you hear someone ask about what’s being done to address their day-to-day struggles, it becomes personal.”
With support from the NSF, the Madhavan Lab continues to drive forward aging and neurodegeneration research while fostering public understanding — bridging the gap between science and society, one step at a time.
“Although the senior community is the most affected, few outreach programs actively involve them — despite their curiosity, eagerness to engage and desire to contribute,” Dr. Madhavan said. “This offers a valuable opportunity to stay grounded in our work and to share our science with the very people it aims to support.”