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
- Lu, H, Huang, G, Wang, D, Ma, Q, Zhang, Y, Jin, M et al.. A flexible 3D ordered SERS sensor for rapid and reliable detection of pesticide residues in fruits. Chem Commun (Camb). 2025; :. doi: 10.1039/d4cc05792a. PubMed PMID:39744889 .
- Cheng, X, Hong, L, Lin, L, Churilov, L, Ling, Y, Yang, N et al.. Tenecteplase Thrombolysis for Stroke up to 24 Hours After Onset With Perfusion Imaging Selection: The CHABLIS-T II Randomized Clinical Trial. Stroke. 2025; :. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.048375. PubMed PMID:39744861 .
- Xia, D, Zhang, N, Zhong, M, Wang, W, Li, Q, Zhang, Y et al.. Photoinduced synthesis of trisubstituted allylic molecules via migratory allylation of olefins. Chem Commun (Camb). 2025; :. doi: 10.1039/d4cc05368k. PubMed PMID:39744851 .
- Zhang, D, Gan, LY, Zhang, WJ, Shi, M, Zhang, L, Zhang, Y et al.. Cervical spine infection arising from chronic paronychia: A case report and review of literature. World J Orthop. 2024;15 (12):1214-1225. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i12.1214. PubMed PMID:39744732 PubMed Central PMC11686523.
- Fitzgerald, AH, Zhang, Y, Stewart, S, Fritz, SA, Lynch, AM, Ramras, M et al.. Flumazenil may improve gait and mentation in dogs presenting with marijuana toxicosis. Front Vet Sci. 2024;11 :1516181. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1516181. PubMed PMID:39744711 PubMed Central PMC11688805.