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
- Chen, Y, Zhang, Y, Luo, P, Su, S, Jiang, W, Luo, C et al.. DLP bioprinting of cartilage organoid-laden bioinks yields high-fidelity auricular constructs with enhanced chondrogenesis. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s13287-026-05156-5. PubMed PMID:42399996 .
- Zhang, Y, Zhang, P, Qin, F, Hu, Y, Pu, B, Qu, H et al.. Blunted exercise-induced hypoalgesia in people with knee pain after a brief low-intensity warm-up: a split-body study with and without blood flow restriction. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01838-y. PubMed PMID:42399981 .
- Li, J, Zhao, F, Lu, R, Zha, Y, Chang, F, Li, X et al.. Effect of Vitamin C on bleeding and pain after kidney biopsy: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s12916-026-05037-x. PubMed PMID:42399956 .
- Cui, Y, Liang, Y, Yang, H, Wang, X, Zhang, Y, Zhang, G et al.. A novel Au-Se nanoplatform for co-delivery of cGAMP and acriflavine synergizes with photothermal therapy to enhance anti-tumor immunity via STING activation and HIF-1α inhibition. J Nanobiotechnology. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s12951-026-04768-6. PubMed PMID:42399930 .
- Zhang, Y, Zhang, L. Comparative efficacy of chemomechanical caries removal and conventional mechanical caries removal for the treatment of primary molar caries in children: a meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-09130-8. PubMed PMID:42399929 .