The Ances lab is a neuroscience research lab within the Department of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis that is focused on:

  1. Developing novel neuroimaging biomarkers of normal aging and neurodegeneration (including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Down syndrome (DS), HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND), Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD), autoimmune- mediated encephalitis (AIME), and neuroCOVID19).
  2. Evaluating therapeutic interventions that will improve neurocognitive deficits and biomarkers associated with neurodegenerative disorders.

The lab utilizes state-of-the-art techniques and analytical approaches to address how neurodegeneration spreads through the brain by coupling neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET)) with psychometrics, blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, and gut microbiome measures.

Under the direction of Beau Ances, MD PhD, Ances Bioimaging lab supports post-doctoral research associates, staff scientists, residents, medical students, graduate students, and undergraduates in their research and educational development.