Philosophy

The quality and importance of our research is accountable to patients with neurodegenerative disease and their families. While striving to serve patients, scientists have simultaneous career demands: school and grant applications, publishing, funding, and promotions. The following principles compose a philosophy which seeks to align the individual success of our lab members with the ultimate goal of treating human disease.

Science

1. First, we observe. Data never “should,” they only “are.”
2. We stay close to the patient. We use human specimens when possible and ask little of model systems.
3. There are no “good hands” and “bad hands.”
4. There are no failed experiments. We always learn something!
5. We interpret data narrowly.
6. If data are noisy and require statistics to make a conclusion, we plan the analysis in advance.

Culture and Communication

1. Happy scientists do good science! We stay respectful and keep reasonable hours.
2. We value diversity.
3. We share data and reagents, and we give each other advice.
4. We accept criticism. It is the science under scrutiny, not the scientist. When giving criticism, we imagine ourselves as a patient hoping for a cure.