Welcome
to
the Lu Lab
We use cutting-edge technology and rigorous experimental design to uncover the secret of neuron-glia interactions.
Lab Research Interests
Current Research focus #1
Oligodendrocyte lineage cell homeostasis across the lifespan
From our birth to death, oligodendrocytes are continuously made from their precursor cells (called OPCs) to accelerate the information processing in our brain. However, why, when, and how OPCs decide to become oligodendrocytes are not clear.
Current Research focus #2
Oligodendrocyte lineage cell homeostasis in Alzheimer’s disease
Oligodendrocyte degeneration is one of the pathological features observed in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients, and yet it has been overlooked for over 100 years.
Current Research focus #3
Oligodendrocyte precursor cell reactivity during brain injury
We have known for decades that oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are highly responsive to brain trauma — It is also almost the only thing that we know about OPCs during brain injury. How they respond and their roles during trauma remain a mystery.
Lab News
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New NIH/NIA R01 Award Alert!
We are excited to share that the Lu Lab has received a new R01 award from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to investigate how aging and Alzheimer’s disease disrupt oligodendrocyte lineage cells, the cells responsible for producing and maintaining myelin in the brain. Our project focuses on how norepinephrine signaling supports oligodendrocyte function and…
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New Publication Alert! “Dynamic Glia in the Living Brain: Insights into Glial Physiology and Function from In Vivo Imaging”
We thank the Editors of the Journal of Neurophysiology, a well-respected journal in the field since 1938, for inviting us to highlight how advances in in vivo imaging have transformed our understanding of glial function and their contributions to neurophysiology.
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Welcome new students to the Lu Lab!
Celebrating the end of winter rotation with a lab lunch at Feast! We welcome Casey and Berenice to join the Lu Lab, and wish Jules the very best in her PhD study in the Gaultier lab.