Cabrera Lab

Born at Cornell University, Cabrera Lab has a mission to spread UpThinking to 8 billion people. Our movement is reshaping minds and organizations globally, one thought at a time. Our founder, Derek Cabrera, epitomizes the transformative power of our mission. From a high school dropout to a mountain guide battling undiagnosed ADHD and autism, his struggles led to the discovery of DSRP theory—the "DNA of thinking." After earning his Ph.D. and becoming faculty at Cornell University, he met Laura, his future wife and research partner. An honors fellow and top student and then faculty at Cornell, Laura found school a refuge from a challenging childhood. Yet, DSRP theory revolutionized her thinking and communication, just as it had saved Derek from a lifetime of misfitism. Together, they founded the Cabrera Lab, becoming leaders in the field of thinking. Their research uncovered widespread thinking errors due to an education system focused more on what to think (content) than how to think (thinking). These issues were evident even among Ivy League students and in their own three children's education. Under Laura's direction, they applied their findings practically, training a diverse range of individuals from scientists to special forces operators and from CEOs to kindergartners, and addressing the frustrations of parents, educators and leaders with how ill-prepared people came to adult life and the workforce. The Cabreras' studies showed that thinking skills, like any other skill, could improve with practice. They identified a Pareto principle in thinking: 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort, and they pinpointed the specific practices needed for fast, exceptional thinking. Their step-by-step "UpThinking" protocol proved that anyone could enhance their thinking skills. We’re dedicated to transforming lives through better thinking. Join Us!