Meet a Civitan Scientist is a series that highlights the impactful research of Civitan scientists and their contributions to understanding and addressing neurodevelopmental challenges.
In this installment, Jeremy Day, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for Strategic Planning and Recruitment in the Department of Neurobiology, discusses his research on the brain's reward system and how genetic insights are paving the way for targeted therapies.
Understanding the reward system and neurodevelopment
The Day Lab focuses on the brain’s reward system regions that are critical for motivation, emotions, responses to addictive drugs, and learning. By studying the brain’s molecular building blocks, Day’s team aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying conditions such as neurodevelopmental disabilities, addiction, and neurodegeneration.
"The brain is our most complex organ, and I’ve always been fascinated by how it works at the most detailed level," Day said. “By understanding the molecular building blocks of the brain, we can better understand brain-related conditions and offer new avenues toward potential therapeutics.”
While the work conducted within the lab is at a basic level, Day emphasizes that this level often leads to new therapies that focus on a specific gene or protein critical to how the brain develops.
This knowledge contributes to our understanding of healthy brain development and may identify new therapeutic interventions that can restore quality of life in people with developmental disabilities.
Civitan International Research Center’s impact on research and discovery
For over a decade, the Civitan International Research Center (CIRC) has supported the Day Lab’s research efforts, helping advance scientific discovery and foster collaboration within the research community.
Notably, CIRC support enabled Day’s team to identify a novel role for the TCF4 gene in neuronal development. Disruptions in TCF4 are linked to Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, a rare autism spectrum disorder characterized by motor delays, altered social function, and speech challenges.
"The work that the CIRC supported provided a new cellular target to consider for therapeutics in children with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome," Day noted.
Furthermore, initial support from CIRC and UAB helps seed emerging ideas that often secure additional federal funding. Day highlights that residents of Alabama are especially vulnerable to many brain-related health conditions, and research at UAB, along with the robust support of Civitan International, boosts that impact annually.
“As an Alabama native, I am proud to have this international organization founded and headquartered in Birmingham and am grateful for the continued support of Civitan International.”
Looking ahead, the Day lab aims to translate vast datasets into an integrated model of brain connectivity, molecular composition, and disease impact, with the goal of targeting neurodevelopmental conditions at their earliest stages.