Research
Astrocyte development and the roles of astrocytes in diseases
Appointments
- Assistant Professor
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
Biography
Astrocytes constitute at least a third of all cells in human brains. Long thought to be passive support cells, astrocytes are recently found to be critical for the development and function of the central nervous system. Accumulating evidence show that astrocytes are involved in almost every type of neurological and psychiatric disorder.
The cellular and molecular mechanisms that control astrocyte development as well as dysfunction of astrocytes in neurological and psychiatric disorders remains poorly understood.
We combine cell culture and mouse genetic approaches to study the following questions:
- What signals regulate astrocyte maturation?
- How is astrocyte differentiation regulated?
- Can we improve treatment of glioblastoma by studying astrocyte development?
- Are astrocytes involved in intellectual disability and autism?
Publications
- Feng, J, Tian, L, Zhang, Y, Zhu, K, Wang, H, Zhao, H et al.. A novel homozygous ABCB6 variant causing the Lan null phenotype and anti-Lan-mediated hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn: A case report and a review of anti-Lan in pregnancy. Transfusion. 2026; :. doi: 10.1111/trf.70319. PubMed PMID:42430167 .
- Song, L, Rini, C, Zhang, Y, Ma, C, Northouse, L, Nielsen, ME et al.. Evaluating a Tailored Web-Based eHealth Intervention for Symptom Management in Couples Managing Prostate Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Randomized Clinical Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2026;28 :e88717. doi: 10.2196/88717. PubMed PMID:42430132 .
- Halacoglu, S, Gao, L, Zhang, Y, Torres, JR, Zhang, X, Hu, E et al.. Metal-Organic Framework-derived Atomic Metal Sites Promoting Sulfur Cathode for All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries. Nano Lett. 2026; :. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6c00307. PubMed PMID:42430123 .
- Hao, K, Liu, J, Tang, H, Zhang, Y, Sun, Y, Zhang, H et al.. Artificial intelligence and automation in enzyme engineering: evolution, advances, and future perspectives. Bioresour Bioprocess. 2026;13 (1):. doi: 10.1186/s40643-026-01096-3. PubMed PMID:42430107 .
- Sun, Y, Yu, ZQ, Zhang, Y, Wu, JX, Dong, M, Xu, Y et al.. Fractional microneedle radiofrequency for photoaging and atrophic acne scar: a split-face clinical observation of two devices. Lasers Med Sci. 2026;41 (1):. doi: 10.1007/s10103-026-04946-w. PubMed PMID:42430070 .