Wang, Lu
Assistant Professor of Dentistry
Our lab aims to push the boundary of our understanding of human brain in development and related disorders with discoveries focused on non-neuronal cells, environmental stress, and genetic mutations, leveraging the stem cell-based organoid/PCCO-assembled model in combination with the state-of-art genetic and genomic (single cell level) strategies to expand our knowledge of the cell-cell communication, fate dynamics, and niche homeostatic of the non-neuronal cells (astrocytes and pericytes) in health, and emergency rescue when they are under stress or in disease. Ultimately, our collective efforts, alongside those of others in the field, will pave the way for groundbreaking interventions in the realm of neurological disease.
Wood, Ruth
Professor of Integrative Anatomical Sciences
My research uses rodent models to study behavioral neuroendocrinology, how hormones act in the brain during development and in adulthood to control behavior in males and females. My emphasis is on hormonal control of cognition, cooperative behavior, and reward. Current research addresses how oxytocin promotes cooperation, and how anabolic steroid abuse impairs cognition.
Zhang, Li
Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience
As systems neuroscientists, we aim to decipher brain circuits to understand how perception and behavior arise, how the brain adapts to a dynamic environment, and how circuit dysfunction contributes to neurological and psychiatric disorders. We focus on resolving neural architecture—the wiring of neurons that underlies brain function. Technical innovation is central to our approach. We have developed molecular, genetic, electrophysiological, and imaging tools to study circuits supporting both local computation and behavior. Our research integrates in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, two-photon calcium imaging, neural modeling, anatomical tracing, and optogenetics to build a comprehensive understanding of cell-type-specific circuit mechanisms.
Zhao, Zhen
Assistant Professor of Physiology & Neuroscience
I received my Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2009, continued my journey at USC as a postdoctoral fellow in 2010, and was promoted to tenure-track assistant professor at in 2017. My scientific training and research expertise covers neurosciences and immunology, as I was mentored by several renowned mentors in these fields, particularly Dr Berislav Zlokovic on blood-brain barrier and neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, my main research objective is to explore the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, understand the crosstalk between the cell types of the brain and explore new approaches to restore the functional crosstalk for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
