Dr. Rothstein's research focuses on the biology underlying neurodegenerative diseases, with a specific focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recent work has focused on astrocyte subtypes, such as layer specific astroglia, their local regulatory function in neuronal synapse and synapse formation. Recent work has also included the role of oligodendroglia and their precursors in contributing to early neurodegeneration, their functions in metabolically supporting axon. The lab is especially focused on regulation of nuclear transport, MCT1 lactate transport and glutamate transport by drugs acting to activate transporter transcription, nuclear and cytoplasmic and membrane interacting proteins which regulate the processing of transporter subtypes.