Education:
1991- B.S., Biology, Northeast Normal University, China
2004- M.S., Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL
2007-Ph. D., Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
2008-2014 Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Research/Teaching Interests:
- Neurogenesis and smell function in acute and chronic olfactory inflammation.
- Astrocytic signaling in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- The role of Amygdala CNTF/Ucn3 in fear extinction learning.
Active Research Funding:
DoD Hypothesis-exploration grant MS220167
Role: Principal Investigator
09/30/2023-09/30/2027
Title: Inhibition of FAK in astrocytes alleviates MS lesions through LIF and OSM
The goal is to investigate the mechanism underpinning astrocyte FAK-mediated
NIH R01 DC020528
Role: Principal Investigator
7/1/22 - 6/30/27
Title: Improving olfactory neuroplasticity through FAK/CNTF signaling
The goal is to target FAK signaling in horizontal basal cells and olfactory ensheathing
cells to upregulate CNTF expression, which promotes olfactory neurogenesis and repair
following injury.