Welcome to the Lab

The Holmes lab is led by Dr. Brandon B. Holmes, a neuroscientist and neurologist specializing in neurodegeneration. Dr. Holmes is based at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center (MAC), part of the Department of Neurology in the UCSF School of Medicine.

The Holmes lab investigates microglia as a critical regulator of Alzheimer's disease. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and serve as the frontline reporters and executioners of inflammatory activity and injury response in neurodegeneration. We explore how microglia remodel their cell-surface proteome, or surfaceome, in Alzheimer's disease. These novel protein profiles are the basis of new biological discovery and the starting point for engineering the next generation of therapeutics.

Our lab uses a combination of proteomics, functional genomics, iPSC biology, and protein engineering to discover new therapeutic targets and innovate the next class of antibody-based drugs. 

Our Mission

Our core philosophy is to advance patient care. To this end, we believe it is critical to understand the basic biology that underlies disease progression. We start with the discovery of novel protein targets, dissect their molecular mechanisms in iPSC culture systems, and validate the targets in animal models of disease. Finally, we develop antibody-based tools to precisely modulate pathologic proteins, paving the way for innovative treatments that hold the promise of transforming the landscape of Alzheimer's disease therapeutics.