About

Michael N. Cranston, PhD Staff Scientist I & Neuroanatomist Michael N. Cranston, PhD, is a Staff Scientist I and Neuroanatomist in the Brain Processing & Neuropathology division at LIBD. He co-leads the management and visual auditing of a 4,000+ specimen human brain repository, ensuring the ledger precision required to support internal & global extramural empirical studies. Dr. Cranston specializes in high-precision macro- and micro-dissections to isolate specimens for specialized downstream applications. Furthermore, he develops standardized protocols to resolve neuroanatomical mapping ambiguities, streamlining cross-departmental workflows for spatial transcriptomics and advanced molecular analyses while providing dedicated laboratory leadership and mentorship.   Previously, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pathology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the DoD/USU Brain Tissue Repository, he investigated the ultrastructural pathology of repeated blast exposure. Utilizing transmission electron microscopy, he developed novel staining and quantification methodologies to evaluate blood-brain barrier integrity, cortical microvasculature, astrocytic endfoot degeneration, and white matter axon pathogenesis in blast-exposed postmortem military brains.   Dr. Cranston earned his M.A. and PhD in Experimental Psychology (Behavioral Neuroscience) from the University of South Carolina, where he researched neurogenesis, synaptodendritic alterations, mesocorticolimbic connectivity, and treatments for HIV-1-associated neurocognitive deficits. An active scientific peer reviewer, he has dedicated the past 13 years to mentoring the next generation of physicians and scientific researchers.