Welcome to the Lawal Neuroscience Research Lab!

Our lab comprises a diverse set of individuals who are working together to answer fundamental questions in neuroscience. We combine molecular, behavioral, genetic and electrophysiological approaches to understand both the mechanisms underyling synaptic neurotransmission and the etiology of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. We invite you to explore our website, and to reach out to us with any questions or comments!
Our Big Picture 
To foster scientific discovery through the creation of a diverse, friendly and intellectually rigorous space that equips members with the resources they need to reach their highest potential.

                     HIGHLIGHTS
​​2025
 - March.  Katarzyna successfully defended her oral PhD dissertation. Outstanding!

2024
- March.  Dionne and Megan successfully defended their oral PhD dissertations. Congratulations on a huge accomplishment! 

2023
- December.  Congratulations Angeline for winning 2nd place in a 10-minute short talk competition at the 2023 DE Neuroscience Symposium. We are proud of you!
- May. Lindsey officially became Dr. Ruggiero! Congratulations on the huge accomplishment!
- Also in April. Dr. Lawal and Dr. Perchiniak (Co-PI) received an NSF Research Experience For Undergraduates grant ($419,000) to provide intensive summer research opportunities for DSU and regional HBCU partners: Lincoln University, Virginia Union, and Cheyney University.
- April. Congratulations to Taylor on her acceptance into the UCLA-HBCU Neuroscience Pathway Internship Program at UCLA this summer!  
- February. The lab published a review article on the regulation of biogenic amines in flies and worms. Read it here. Congrats to the co-authors Kasia and Megan!

2022
- October. NEW POSTDOC POSITION open in the lab. If interested, please apply here! 
- August. The Lawal lab recently received two research grants. A National Science Foundation Standard Research Award for ~$1m to study basic mechanisms of cholinergic synaptic transmission and a Funded Extension to the K01 Award from the National Institutes of Health to study cholinergic synaptic transmission during aging (~$100,000). Exciting. 
Also in August. Congratulations Yolanda for winning best poster presenter award during her UCLA-HBCU Neuroscience Pathway internship. Great job!
More August News. Congratulations Taylor for winning 2nd place in the Delaware INBRE summer scholars photo contest! Well done!
Still in August. Mykia was accepted into a STEM Master's program at Johns Hopkins. Congrats!
- March. The lab is pleased to welcome Esther Abiona back to the lab as an expert consultant. Welcome back, Esther!
- February. Black History Month Neuroscience Lecture: See Hakeem's UCLA seminar here

We are very interested in synaptic neurotransmission!
Our research is focused on determining how changes in neurotransmitter release affects behavior and physiology in two neurotransmitter systems, the cholinergic and dopaminergic systems. This topic is both fundamental to neurobiology and important to public health because defects in cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling in part form the basis of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, defects in cholinergic synaptic regulation have been associated with behavioral decline seen during aging. Our ultimate objectives are to advance understanding of the mechanisms underlying synaptic neurotransmission and to contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies against neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and cognitive deficits associated with aging.

Hakeem Lawal, Ph.D
Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience
PI Lawal lab

Delaware State University
1200 N Dupont Hwy
Dover, DE 19901
                                                                                       RECENT PUBLICATIONS

White, D., de Sousa Abreu R.P., Blake, A., Murphy, J., Showell, S., Kitamoto, T., Lawal, H.O. 2020. Deficits in the vesicular acetylcholine transporter alter lifespan and behavior in adult Drosophila melanogaster. Neurochem Int. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 32315665

Showell, S.S., Martinez, Y., Gondolfo, S., Boppana, S., Lawal, H.O. 2020. Overexpression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter disrupts cognitive performance and causes age-dependent locomotion decline in Drosophila. Mol Cell Neurosci. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 32217162.

Deshpande, S.A., Freyberg, Z., Lawal, H.O., Krantz, D.E. 2020. Vesicular neurotransmitter transporters in Drosophila melanogaster. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 32305263

More geeky stuff

The Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter and Synaptic Release
The vesicular acetylcholine transporter mediates the packaging and transport of the acetylcholine for exocytotic release. Below is a schematic of the predicted 12-transmembrane domain structure of that protein.
 
VAChT is expressed in the Mushroom Body the learning and memory center of the fly brain. VAChT is strongly expressed in Kenyon Cells (KCs) of the mushroom body. For details, see Lawal et al. 2017.
 
Drosophila models of Sporadic PD. Drosophila presents a very useful and convenient model to study the effect of environmental toxins on dopaminergic neuron and thus a useful way to measure the potential toxicity induced by environmental risk factors. For details, see Lawal et al. 2010].