This was a collaborative effort across Columbia, IPF Dresden, Northwestern, DZNE, and Koç University. Thanks to Rajvinder Kaur Trautmann from Neuron D GmbH for leading the work, and to our funding agencies, European Commission and Federal State of Saxony. COI disclosures are included in the paper.

In this system:
– patient-derived cells form invasive 3D architectures
– we can tune ECM properties (stiffness, adhesion, signaling)
– gene expression programs resemble primary & recurrent tumors
– drug responses (including combinations) can be tested at scale

It evolved into a high-throughput 3D Glioblastoma model based on hydrogels. The key idea was if we want to understand (and treat) GBM, we need models that behave like tumors. Still a simplified model but a step toward more predictive systems and, hopefully, functional precision approaches in GBM.

High‐Throughput 3D Glioblastoma Model in Glycosaminoglycan Hydrogels for Personalized Therapeutic Screening Kaur–Trautmann et al. present a high-throughput, chemically defined 3D glioblastoma model based on glycosaminoglycan hydrogels that allow orthogonal control of stiffness, adhesion, and degradability ...

Our new paper is out (and currently the most-read in Macromolecular Bioscience):
doi.org/10.1002/mabi...
A bit of an unexpected direction. My lab works on Alzheimer’s, but this project grew out of curiosity where we started exploring how to better control brain-like microenvironments in vitro.

Had the joy of being a keynote speaker at the NYC Student Research Conference at Stuyvesant for a gathering of students from schools across New York City. The depth and curiosity they brought to every question was inspiring. Thanks for the invitation to meet these brilliant minds. #NYC #science

James D. Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97

His legacy is irrevocably tainted by misogynist and racist statements. We should remember both the science and the harm. I, for one, will remember Rosalind Franklin more.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...

New Paper Published: Shared Genetic Architecture Between Early-Onset Alzheimer’s and Lipid Traits We are pleased to highlight a recent publication by Ray et al. (2025) that investigates local genetic covariance between early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) and blood lipid traits. We in the Kiz…

New collaborative paper out 📚
#alzheimer #publication

kizillab.org/2025/10/05/n...

Don't miss the amazing line-up of talks in the 'Ageing and Adult Disease Models' session at #ZDM18. Featuring Caghan Kizil
@cakizil.bsky.social who will be speaking about 'Blood-Brain Barrier Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Opportunities in Alzheimer’s Disease' #zdmsECI #ZDMSociety

Congratulations to all authors! This work was supported by several federal and private research grants. We thank the patients and families for their participation.

@columbiauniversity.bsky.social

... isogenic iPSC-derived human cells, mouse models, and #human brain tissues show the universal importance and validity of these disease pathways. Targeting these pathologies may open promising therapeutic avenues to slow #Alzheimer’s disease progression.

This rigidity may exacerbate the breakdown blood-brain barrier, an important structure regulating the clearance and basic health of the #brain. Our results provide further evidence linking vascular pathology to AD progression. Our validation in other large cohorts, ++

We identified unique molecular changes in various cell types that regulate the interaction between brain cells and blood vessels. An important cell type, #astrocytes, adopt a hyper-adhesive, mechanically rigid states at the #vascular interface with #APOE-ε4.

Single-nucleus multiomics in brains from Hispanic individuals reveal APOE-ε4-driven disruption of focal adhesion signaling in the presence of cerebrovascular pathology The apolipoprotein E4 allele (APOEϵ4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet its molecular impact on cerebrovascular biology remains inconclusive, particular...

▶️ #Preprint @medrxivpreprint.bsky.social on our novel multiome resource from 52 #human brains of Hispanic ancestry, known to bear high vascular pathology. In @elanuryilmaz.bsky.social et al., we analyzed the effects of #APOE-ε4, a strong genetic risk factor for #Alzheimer's.

doi.org/10.1101/2025...

#2024Recap
2024 was an amazing year for #KizilLab with impactful publications, awards, patent applications, and discoveries with #zebrafish. These wouldn't be possible without our excellent team, collaborators, supporters &
@columbiauniversity.bsky.social. Big thanks! 💙 Looking fwd to more in 2025!🌟

Wherever you are and whichever of the diverse celebrations you observe today, 🎄 Merry #Christmas , 🕎 Happy #Hanukkah, 🕯️ Happy #Kwanzaa, 🌞 Blessed #Yule and any other holiday you celebrate this season.This must remind us of the shared values of humanity and unity in diversity. #HappyHolidays

This is figure 2, which shows that political interaction networks are structurally polarized in each of the nine countries studied.

Using X/Twitter data from nine countries, a study in Nature Communications shows that out-group mentions use more toxic language than in-group mentions, and political mentions are more toxic than apolitical mentions. https://go.nature.com/417N7KG 🧪

Thank you Jingli🥰

Decoding the molecular, cellular, and functional heterogeneity of zebrafish intracardiac nervous system - Nature Communications Although the heart has its own nervous system, its organization and functionality remain largely unknown. Here, the authors reveal the molecular, chemical, and functional diversity of neurons within t...

🚨 Our new study out in @natureportfolio.bsky.social! 🌟
We identify the "little brain" of the heart: the intricate intracardiac nervous system (IcNS) of zebrafish! 🐟

More about how this changes what we know about heart functionality.
#Zebrafish #Neuroscience #LittleBrain

doi.org/10.1038/s414...

This was a collaborative effort from teams at @karolinskainst.bsky.social and @columbiauniversity.bsky.social. Congratulations to all authors, including our own @elanuryilmaz.bsky.social and Prabesh Bhattarai! 🙌

Thanks for the generous support of our funding agencies 🙏

Why it matters:
This research challenges the idea that the heart is just a simple relay, positioning the IcNS as a key player in rhythm generation. A leap toward new therapeutic strategies for arrhythmia and heart failure.

🔑Highlights:
- Pacemaker-like neurons in the IcNS, generating rhythmic activity autonomously 🧠💓
- A complex diversity of neurotransmitter systems finely tuning heart rhythms 🔬
- Ex-vivo study of intact neural heart networks 🧪

Decoding the molecular, cellular, and functional heterogeneity of zebrafish intracardiac nervous system - Nature Communications Although the heart has its own nervous system, its organization and functionality remain largely unknown. Here, the authors reveal the molecular, chemical, and functional diversity of neurons within t...

🚨 Our new study out in @natureportfolio.bsky.social! 🌟
We identify the "little brain" of the heart: the intricate intracardiac nervous system (IcNS) of zebrafish! 🐟

More about how this changes what we know about heart functionality.
#Zebrafish #Neuroscience #LittleBrain

doi.org/10.1038/s414...

Saturday evening #cat

Our review on multi-target drugs and their use in Alzheimer's disease in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences @cellpress.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...

Collaborative Study on Molecular Insights into Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease Published We are thrilled to announce our participation in a groundbreaking study in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, now published in Nature Communications. This research looks into the intricate role of blo…

kizillab.org/2024/06/20/c...

Our project received Translational Therapeutics Accelerator Award We are glad to announce that we received a Translational Therapeutics Accelerator (TRx) Pilot Award, which provides resources to position therapeutic discoveries for future commercial value. T…

kizillab.org/2024/08/26/o...

ABCA7-dependent induction of neuropeptide Y is required for synaptic resilience in Alzheimer’s disease through BDNF/NGFR signaling In this study, Tayran et al. investigate the role of ABCA7, certain genetic variants of which act as risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), using a zebrafish AD model. They demonstrate that ABCA7-...

www.cell.com/cell-genomic...

Congratulations to all authors and thanks to supporting agencies.

Study Shows How Common Genetic Variants in Black Americans Increase Alzheimer’s Risk Variants of the ABCA7 gene accelerate neurodegeneration by reducing the amount of neuropeptide Y, a protein essential for maintaining brain synapses.

www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/study-s...

#NewPublication
Changes in ABCA7 gene links to a greater risk of Alzheimer’s, but it was unclear how the variants advance the disease. We have discovered how variants of the ABCA7 gene, which are common among Black Americans, increase the risk for Alzheimer’s.

We found a genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer’s disease We discovered a genetic variant that reduces the odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease by up to 70% and may be protecting hundreds of thousands of people from the disease. The discovery of the pro…

kizillab.org/2024/04/10/w...