Prof Wei Cao

Our laboratory studies the biology of neuroinflammation and related pathogenic events associated with neurodegenerative diseases. A leading health and economic burden to an aging society, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a condition with complex etiology and manifests in dysregulated neuronal functions and intercellular communications in the brain. Increasingly, neuroinflammatory signals and microglial responses are critically implicated in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. We are keen to illuminate the fundamental principles that govern the neuroinflammatory phenomena in driving AD and brain aging (check our recent publications J. Clin. Invest. 130:1912 (2020); Front Neurosci 14:577744 (2020); BioRiv 2021.11.01.466525(2021)).

Establishing a brand new presence in Univ of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, we are looking for an enthusiastic candidate to join a spirited group. The focus of the immediate project is to elucidate the mechanisms of neuroinflammation and to identify the key pathways and factors involved in AD by examining various CNS cells and analyzing mouse disease models. Additional projects will investigate cellular elements that modify glial functions in the aging brain and/or under the context of AD pathogenesis. Other areas of our research interest include devising strategies to target AD-relevant inflammatory and pathogenic mediators.