Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin Medical College of Wisconsin
Decorative
Gupta Laboratory

About the Gupta Lab

The Gupta Lab works to understand the mechanisms responsible for pathological and therapeutic remodeling in the development of epilepsy. Working primarily using animal models, the Gupta Lab studies the function of different genes and molecular pathways responsible for the development of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common form of focal epilepsy. The goal of the Gupta Lab is to discover novel therapeutic targets that might prevent the development of epilepsy or its recurrence after epilepsy surgery. 
Dr. Kunal Gupta and researcher working in lab.
Three-dimensional imaging of brain, including targeted neural pathway highlighted in yellow, indicating focal epileptic event

Gupta Lab Research

Through human patients and animal epilepsy models, we know that the brain undergoes a number of remodeling events, affecting the shape, location and physiology of neurons in the temporal lobe. These changes are believed to result in the development of the seizure network by a process called epileptogenesis. The pathways responsible for the remodeling events and the development of epilepsy are unknown, and represent therapeutic targets that might prevent the development of epilepsy.

Current Projects

The Gupta Lab investigates cellular remodeling and epileptic seizures in the hippocampal seizure network. We examine the activity of key molecular pathways and determine how we can intervene to prevent the development of epilepsy.  Our first project involves understanding the role of Wnt signaling in the development of temporal lobe epilepsy. Given the role of Wnt signaling in neurogenesis and the importance of aberrant neurogenesis in epilepsy, we are investigating the relationship between changes in Wnt signaling and dysregulation of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Our second project involves understanding the role of inflammation in the development of the seizure network in temporal lobe epilepsy.
Hub for Collaborative Medicine

Facilities

Located in the Translational and Biomedical Research Center on the Medical College of Wisconsin's Milwaukee Campus, Gupta Lab facilities support exciting and innovative techniques such as stereotactic surgery, transgenics, viral gene modulation, electrophysiology, and transcriptomics for the investigation of the development of epilepsy. 

Funding

The Gupta Lab extends its gratitude for funding support provided by Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, the National Institutes of Health, and the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation. 

Current Lab Members

The Gupta Lab is led by Dr. Kunal Gupta, a clinician researcher with a focus on the development of epilepsy. 

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Kunal Gupta, MD, PhD, FAANS

Assistant Professor

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Cora Helton

MSTP Graduate Student

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Nicole Rodgers

Research Technologist I

Collaborative Investigators

The Gupta Lab works closely with collaborators at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Indiana University School of Medicine, and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Collaborators of the Gupta Lab offer a wide variety of expertise, with specializations including neurosurgery, head-and-neck surgery, psychiatry, plethysmography, neuron tracing and biomedical engineering.

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Antje Kroner-Milsch, MD, PhD

Associate Professor

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Matthew R. Hodges, PhD, FAPS

Professor and Eminent Scholar; Director of Graduate Studies

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Ehren Newman, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Indiana University Bloomington

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Rita Patel, PhD

Associate Professor of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Indiana University, Bloomington

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Hernan G. Rey, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering

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Kajana Satkunendrarajah, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery; Physiology

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Amol Yadav, PhD

Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery

Collaborative Programs

Gupta Lab works in collaboration with such innovative research programs as the Parkinson's & Movement Disorder Program at Froedtert & MCW and the Epilepsy Surgery Program at Indiana State University. 
Three circular imaging samples of excited neurons with overlapping purple ring

Comprehensive Epilepsy Care

The Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin provides world-class care to patients with seizures and related conditions.

Learn more about the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Froedtert & MCW


Parkinson's & Movement Disorders 

The Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Program at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to improving the lives of people with movement disorders. 

Learn more about the Parkinson's & Movement Disorders Program at Froedtert & MCW

Recent Publications

Publications of Kunal Gupta MD, PhD from the Faculty Collaboration Database

Get Involved with the Gupta Lab

The Gupta Lab is dedicated to engaging current researchers and creating opportunities for the next generation of clinicians, researchers, and biomedical engineers.

Research Rotations

Medical Students accepting a research rotation in the Gupta Lab will gain experience in stereotactic surgery, transgenics, viral gene modulation, electrocorticography, and a variety of molecular biology techniques. The appropriate candidate will have an interest epilepsy, neurosurgery, or general surgery. 

Graduate Education

The Gupta Lab accepts graduate students seeking M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at the Medical College of Wisconsin who are interested in cellular remodeling and epileptic seizures.  

Learn more about MCW Graduate Studies

Undergraduate Opportunities 

Through the Summer Program for Undergraduate Research, also known as SPUR, undergraduate students will make real contributions to science and humanity while working alongside Dr. Gupta and his team on research projects integrating neuroscience and epilepsy.

Learn more about SPUR