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
- Jiang, W, Li, S, Peng, Y, Xiao, J, Wang, D, Chen, C et al.. Clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type: three case reports. Discov Oncol. 2026; :. doi: 10.1007/s12672-026-04844-1. PubMed PMID:41935983 .
- Chen, Q, Liu, P, Peng, F, Zhang, Y. Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy versus flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy using a negative-pressure ureteral access sheath: A minimally invasive approach for renal calculi. Actas Urol Esp (Engl Ed). 2026; :501978. doi: 10.1016/j.acuroe.2026.501978. PubMed PMID:41935782 .
- Mittal, A, Liu, H, Lim, P, Avant-Garde Health Hip Arthroplasty Research Group, Melnic, CM, Bedair, HS et al.. Trends and Risk Factors in Revision and Re-Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty in Medicare Patients from 2016 to 2022. J Arthroplasty. 2026; :. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2026.01.067. PubMed PMID:41935759 .
- Cheng, J, Yu, Y, Peng, Y, Xiong, J, Qin, X, Peng, Z et al.. Psychometric validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for pregnant women: A comprehensive longitudinal study in China. J Affect Disord. 2026; :121712. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121712. PubMed PMID:41935747 .
- Huang, G, Chen, S, Zhang, Y, Tang, Z, Che, J, Du, L et al.. Ketorolac tromethamine-loaded hydrogel-forming microneedles for pediatric pain relief. J Pharm Sci. 2026; :104276. doi: 10.1016/j.xphs.2026.104276. PubMed PMID:41935719 .