• HOME
  • ABOUT
    • MISSION
    • CAREERS
    • FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS >
      • DREAM-NEURO PROGRAM
      • SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
    • DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
    • FUNDING SOURCES
    • COMMUNITY RESOURCES
    • MAKE A DONATION
    • CONTACT US
    • RESEARCH FAQs
  • RESEARCH
    • MRI & EEG CORE
    • LABORATORY CORE
    • DATA ANALYTICS CORE
    • ASSESSMENT CORE
    • FLOAT CLINIC & RESEARCH CENTER
    • POPULATION NEUROSCIENCE & GENETICS CENTER
    • PUBLICATIONS
  • PEOPLE
    • ALL STAFF
    • INVESTIGATORS >
      • PRINCIPAL >
        • ROBIN AUPPERLE
        • CHUN CHIEH FAN
        • SALVADOR GUINJOAN
        • SAHIB KHALSA
        • MARTIN PAULUS
        • JONATHAN SAVITZ
        • RYAN SMITH
        • JENNIFER STEWART
        • WESLEY THOMPSON
        • EVAN WHITE
      • ASSOCIATE >
        • LEANDRA FIGUEROA-HALL
        • MARIA IRONSIDE
        • MASAYA MISAKI
        • AKI TSUCHIYAGAITO
        • HAIXIA ZHENG
      • AFFILIATE >
        • HAMED EKHTIARI
        • NAMIK KIRLIC
        • RENE HURLEMANN
        • HEEKYEONG PARK
        • PHILIP SPECHLER
      • MRI and EEG FACILITY >
        • MICHAEL ROHAN
    • ADMINISTRATIVE
    • SCIENTIFIC
    • CLINICAL & MRI ASSESSMENT
    • IN MEMORIAM
    • ALUMNI
    • SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
  • STUDIES
    • ONGOING STUDIES
    • NEUROMAP
    • PASO
    • ABCD
    • RESEARCH MATCH
  • PRODUCTS
    • PRODUCTS OVERVIEW
    • NEUROIMAGING AND BEHAVIORAL TASKS
    • TULSA LIFE CHART
    • COLLEGE TOUGH RESILIENCE PROGRAM
    • BARI POSTERS
    • COVID HERO
  • NEWS
Laureate Institute for Brain Research
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • MISSION
    • CAREERS
    • FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS >
      • DREAM-NEURO PROGRAM
      • SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
    • DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
    • FUNDING SOURCES
    • COMMUNITY RESOURCES
    • MAKE A DONATION
    • CONTACT US
    • RESEARCH FAQs
  • RESEARCH
    • MRI & EEG CORE
    • LABORATORY CORE
    • DATA ANALYTICS CORE
    • ASSESSMENT CORE
    • FLOAT CLINIC & RESEARCH CENTER
    • POPULATION NEUROSCIENCE & GENETICS CENTER
    • PUBLICATIONS
  • PEOPLE
    • ALL STAFF
    • INVESTIGATORS >
      • PRINCIPAL >
        • ROBIN AUPPERLE
        • CHUN CHIEH FAN
        • SALVADOR GUINJOAN
        • SAHIB KHALSA
        • MARTIN PAULUS
        • JONATHAN SAVITZ
        • RYAN SMITH
        • JENNIFER STEWART
        • WESLEY THOMPSON
        • EVAN WHITE
      • ASSOCIATE >
        • LEANDRA FIGUEROA-HALL
        • MARIA IRONSIDE
        • MASAYA MISAKI
        • AKI TSUCHIYAGAITO
        • HAIXIA ZHENG
      • AFFILIATE >
        • HAMED EKHTIARI
        • NAMIK KIRLIC
        • RENE HURLEMANN
        • HEEKYEONG PARK
        • PHILIP SPECHLER
      • MRI and EEG FACILITY >
        • MICHAEL ROHAN
    • ADMINISTRATIVE
    • SCIENTIFIC
    • CLINICAL & MRI ASSESSMENT
    • IN MEMORIAM
    • ALUMNI
    • SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
  • STUDIES
    • ONGOING STUDIES
    • NEUROMAP
    • PASO
    • ABCD
    • RESEARCH MATCH
  • PRODUCTS
    • PRODUCTS OVERVIEW
    • NEUROIMAGING AND BEHAVIORAL TASKS
    • TULSA LIFE CHART
    • COLLEGE TOUGH RESILIENCE PROGRAM
    • BARI POSTERS
    • COVID HERO
  • NEWS

Leandra Figueroa-Hall, Ph.D.


Associate Investigator, LIBR
CURRICULUM VITAE
GOOGLE SCHOLAR

The Figueroa-Hall Laboratory


Picture

Our Research Approach


Inflammation is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD), but the exact immunoregulatory mechanisms are not well understood. Dr. Figueroa-Hall’s training and expertise in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inflammatory signaling is the basis for her research interests in examining how the TLR4 system via regulating inflammatory processes affects mental health. Her overarching goal is to understand how the immune system is dysregulated in MDD and identify novel targets/biomarkers for inflammation-associated depression.
 
Current research aims:
  • Investigate peripheral and central immune responses in depressed vs. healthy individuals
  • Delineate astrocyte-enriched EV-mediated immune mechanisms in MDD
 
Dr. Figueroa-Hall’s research is currently funded by the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) and the National Institute of Mental Health (K99MH126950: In vivo inflammatory challenge to elucidate the role of toll-like receptor 4 pathway in depression).

Picture
CONTACT DR. FIGUEROA-HALL

Research Program Highlights


Picture
Main Question
How does the body’s response to fighting off external or internal agents via the TLR4 system possibly result in depression? This question is based on the premise that the body’s response to external agents (i.e., viruses and bacteria) and internal (i.e., cellular contents released due to stressors) agents not only affects the body but also the brain, possibly leading to depression as one of its consequences.
Picture

Picture
Approach​​
With the use of molecular and genetic techniques, Dr. Figueroa-Hall is now investigating central mechanisms with the isolation of brain-enriched extracellular vesicles (EV), specifically, astrocyte-enriched EV (AEEV). The study of brain-enriched (EV) provides a unique, and possibly, revolutionary approach to examine brain biology from a blood sample. Specifically, AEEV are a window into one of the brain’s immune mechanisms to activating the TLR4 system and will help to determine whether the degree of brain response is associated with changes in mental health. 

Picture
Future Directions​​
​Dr. Figueroa-Hall’s laboratory will aim to 1) examine peripheral and central regulatory mechanisms in MDD; 2) elucidate the role of damage-associate molecular patterns (internal agents) in MDD and other psychiatric disorders; and 3) identify/validate microglial-specific maker (s) for isolation of microglial-enriched EV and investigation of their role in mental health pathophysiology. 
Picture

Scientific Background


Dr. Figueroa-Hall was born in Warner Robins, GA and raised in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. She received her B.Sc. in Biology from the University of the Virgin Islands, her M.Sc. in Biomedical Research with a focus on molecular mechanisms of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling from the University of Maryland, School of Medicine (SOM), and her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in TLR4 neuroinflammatory signaling from Oklahoma State University, Center for Health Sciences. After obtaining her doctorate, she completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University SOM, gaining experience in translational-based research and cutting-edge techniques.
 
Dr. Figueroa-Hall joined LIBR in 2019 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate under the mentorships of Dr. Jonathan Savitz and Dr. Martin Paulus. Dr. Figueroa-Hall was promoted to Associate Investigator in 2022. Her current research focuses on elucidating immune mechanisms in MDD.

Selected Publications


Figueroa-Hall LK, Xu B, Kuplicki R et al. Psychiatric symptoms are not associated with circulating CRP concentrations after controlling for medical, social, and demographic factors. Transl Psychiatry. 2022 12:279.
Burrows K, Figueroa-Hall LK, Kuplicki R, Stewart JL, Alarbi AM, Ramesh R, Savitz JB, Teague TK, Risbrough VB, Paulus MP. Neuronally-enriched exosomal microRNA-27b mediates acute effects of ibuprofen on reward-related brain activity in healthy adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Sci Rep. 2022 Jan 17;12(1):861.
Burrows K, Stewart JL, Kuplicki R, Figueroa-Hall L, Spechler PA, Zheng H, Guinjoan SM; Tulsa 1000 Investigators, Savitz JB, Kent Teague T, Paulus MP. Elevated peripheral inflammation is associated with attenuated striatal reward anticipation in major depressive disorder. Brain Behav Immun. 2021 Mar;93:214-225.
Figueroa-Hall LK, Paulus MP, Savitz J. Toll-Like Receptor Signaling in Depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020 Nov;121:104843.
Thomas M, Savitz J, Zhang Y, Burrows K, Smith R, Figueroa-Hall L, Kuplicki R, Khalsa SS, Taki Y, Teague TK, Irwin MR, Yeh FC, Paulus MP, Zheng H, On Behalf Of Tulsa Investigators. Elevated Systemic Inflammation Is Associated with Reduced Corticolimbic White Matter Integrity in Depression. Life (Basel). 2021 Dec 28;12(1):43.
May AC, Burrows K, Figueroa-Hall LK, Kirlic N, White EJ, Smith R, Ekhtiari H, Paulus MP, Savitz J, Stewart JL; T1000 Investigators. Sex differences in circulating inflammatory mediators as a function of substance use disorder. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2021 Apr 1;221:108610.
FULL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

Research Collaborators


T. Kent Teague
​
University of Oklahoma-Tulsa
Victoria Risbrough
University of California, San Diego/VA
Ramesh Rajagopal
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, OKC
Bethany Hannafon
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, OKC
COLLABORATE WITH DR. FIGUEROA-HALL
Picture

VISIT LIBR

6655 South Yale Ave. Tulsa, OK 74136
​918.502.5100 | info@laureateinstitute.org

GET CONNECTED

Careers | Compliance

© 2009-2022. All Rights Reserved. Laureate Institute for Brain Research

Site powered by Laureate Institute for Brain Research
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • MISSION
    • CAREERS
    • FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS >
      • DREAM-NEURO PROGRAM
      • SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
    • DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
    • FUNDING SOURCES
    • COMMUNITY RESOURCES
    • MAKE A DONATION
    • CONTACT US
    • RESEARCH FAQs
  • RESEARCH
    • MRI & EEG CORE
    • LABORATORY CORE
    • DATA ANALYTICS CORE
    • ASSESSMENT CORE
    • FLOAT CLINIC & RESEARCH CENTER
    • POPULATION NEUROSCIENCE & GENETICS CENTER
    • PUBLICATIONS
  • PEOPLE
    • ALL STAFF
    • INVESTIGATORS >
      • PRINCIPAL >
        • ROBIN AUPPERLE
        • CHUN CHIEH FAN
        • SALVADOR GUINJOAN
        • SAHIB KHALSA
        • MARTIN PAULUS
        • JONATHAN SAVITZ
        • RYAN SMITH
        • JENNIFER STEWART
        • WESLEY THOMPSON
        • EVAN WHITE
      • ASSOCIATE >
        • LEANDRA FIGUEROA-HALL
        • MARIA IRONSIDE
        • MASAYA MISAKI
        • AKI TSUCHIYAGAITO
        • HAIXIA ZHENG
      • AFFILIATE >
        • HAMED EKHTIARI
        • NAMIK KIRLIC
        • RENE HURLEMANN
        • HEEKYEONG PARK
        • PHILIP SPECHLER
      • MRI and EEG FACILITY >
        • MICHAEL ROHAN
    • ADMINISTRATIVE
    • SCIENTIFIC
    • CLINICAL & MRI ASSESSMENT
    • IN MEMORIAM
    • ALUMNI
    • SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
  • STUDIES
    • ONGOING STUDIES
    • NEUROMAP
    • PASO
    • ABCD
    • RESEARCH MATCH
  • PRODUCTS
    • PRODUCTS OVERVIEW
    • NEUROIMAGING AND BEHAVIORAL TASKS
    • TULSA LIFE CHART
    • COLLEGE TOUGH RESILIENCE PROGRAM
    • BARI POSTERS
    • COVID HERO
  • NEWS