Florida Atlantic UniversityUnited States
Biography
Present position: Professor of Biomedical Science
1998-2019, Professor at Ohio State University
1995-1998, Research scientist, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda
1993-1995, Postdoctoral fellow, Emory University
1991-1993, Postdoctoral fellow, Duke University
Ph.D., Neurophysiology, University of Tennessee, 1991
B.S., Biomechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1985
The focus of my lab is how the nervous system and immune system form a combined neuroimmune suprasystem. We are interested in understanding how these two systems communicate with each other to modulate each other’s function. We use multiple techniques in molecular biology, neuroscience, and immunology to accomplish this goal. This multidisciplinary approach creates an ideal environment for training students on broad biomedical research subjects. Advanced technologies such as FACS analysis, cloning, in-cell Western, patch-clamping electrophysiology, production of transgenic mouse and targeted transgenesis, and behavioral analysis are employed in my laboratory. Our current research led to the discovery of the euflammatory process which can be used to design vaccine-based induction of immune responses as well as bacterial based cancer therapy. We are also conducting detailed analysis on cell-type specific actions mediated by IL-1R1 using several lines of transgenic animals we created. This research has led to the identification of specific pathways related to the pathogenesis of various psychopathology caused by CNS inflammation. A very exciting new area we are exploring is the direct action of the inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1, on remodeling of neuro-circuits in the central nervous system via its receptors expressed on neurons. This research could reveal the neurophysiology of immunity and the molecular basis of neuroinflammation mediated psychopathology.
Fields of Interest
- Neuroimmune Communication
- CNS Cytokine
- Neuroinflammation
- Cytokine Modulation of Behavior