Hayden Moore 
BME PhD Proposal Presentation

Date: 2025-12-11
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location / Meeting Link: Marcus 1117 

Committee Members:
Dr. Annabelle Singer (Advisor); Dr. Levi Wood; Dr. Timothy Cope; Dr. Stephen Traynelis; Dr. Allan Levey 


Title: Investigating Audiovisual Flicker’s Effects as a Noninvasive Modulator of Neuroimmune Function

Abstract:
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are emerging as central drivers in various neurodegenerative disease pathologies, making them a promising therapeutic target . However, microglia are difficult to target because their function and gene expression change dynamically with context. To address this challenge , I am investigating the ability of frequency-specific audiovisual flicker (flicker) to modulate microglial phenotype. Flicker is a noninvasive paradigm that uses synchronized light and sound at specific frequencies to drive neural and glial responses. It has been shown to alter microglial morphology and immune signaling, and its ability to directly modulate microglia provides a major advantage, given how difficult microglia have been to manipulate with conventional therapeutic approaches. I will test the effects of flicker in two new pathological contexts, in an APOE4 genetic risk model of Alzheimer’s Disease, and in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model . Mice will be exposed to no stimulation, 20 Hz, or 40 Hz, and the effects of flicker will be evaluated through microglial morphology, cytokine expression patterns, and single-cell RNA sequencing. Furthermore, I will examine the causal role of purinergic receptor P2RY12 in flicker-induced microglial responses. This proposal will determine how flicker shapes microglial states in two distinct pathological settings and will help define the potential of flicker as a preventative treatment for neurodegenerative disease.