CNG News

Date	Description
August 20, 2026	Dr. Rodney Ritzel hosted a CNG Monthly Seminar featuring Romeesa Khan, a doctoral student at UTHealth Houston. In her talk, “Mechanisms Underlying Post-Stroke Cognitive Decline,”Romeesa discussed chronic ischemic brain injury and its association with cognitive decline and cellular senescence. She also presented findings showing that delayed senolytic treatment improved long-term cognitive function in mice.
August 19, 2026	The Wu Lab has received a renewal of the U19 grant (external link) led by Drs. Takahisa Kanekiyo, Dave Holtzman, and Allsion Goate. Dr. Long-Jun Wu serves as co-principal investigator of Project 3, which investigates APOE protective variants in cerebrovascular function. This cooperative agreement supports collaboration and shared resources to advance our understanding on the biology and pathology of APOE in aging and Alzheimer’s diseases. Many congratulations to the Wu Lab and team!
August 14, 2026	Dr. Simone Brioschi has published a first-author study in Cell titled "Brain perivascular macrophages regulate endothelial cell function via a cMAF-dependent transcriptional program in mouse and human.” The study identified cMAF as a key regulator of brain perivascular macrophages and cerebrovascular function through local IGF1 production. This program is conserved in mice and humans, and increased cMAF expression is associated with reduced Alzheimer’s disease risk. Many congratulations to Dr. Brioschi on this publication!
August 12, 2026	Dr. Qingchun Tong was featured in UTHealth Houston News for his lab’s research uncovering an unexpected link between stress-responsive brain cells and obesity. His team found that CRH and glutamate, released by the same neurons, have contrasting effects on diet-induced obesity, offering new insight into how the brain regulates body weight.
July 20, 2026	Lauren Harris, master student from Wu lab, has successfully presented and defended her master thesis “Neuronal and Neuroimmune Responses to Sleep Deprivation Across Functionally Distinct Brain Regions.” Lauren will join our GSBS Neuroscience PhD program in the coming semester. Many congratulations to Lauren on this great achievement!
July 16, 2026	Dr. Qingchun Tong hosted a CNG monthly seminar featuring Dr. Yuanzhong Xu, assistant professor at UTHealth Houston. In his talk, “Circuit mechanisms of stress scalability,” Dr. Xu discussed how brain stress networks work coordinately to achieve the appropriate behavioral responses to environmental stressor. He described the real-time roles of crosstalk between CRH neurons in the PVH brain regions with upstream inhibitory and excitatory inputs, as well as neighboring astrocytes, in regulating the scalability of stress responses.
June 30, 2026	Dr. Long-Jun Wu was invited to deliver Emeritus Professor Ling Eng-Ang Distinguished Neuroscience Lecture at the Singapore Neuroscience Association (SNA) Annual Symposium (external link) held in Singapore. SNA meeting brings together researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders together to share the latest advances in neuroscience research and foster collaboration across the scientific community.
June 25, 2026	Emma Wheeler, postdoctoral fellow from Tong lab, earned third place in the UTHealth Houston Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences' T1-T4 in 3 (Minutes) Translational Challenge (external link) for her presentation, "GPR75 and GLP1R Agonists Work Separately for Reducing Diet-Induced Obesity." The competition challenges trainees to communicate complex translational research to a broad audience in just three minutes. Congratulations to Emma for this great achievement!
June 23, 2026	Dr. Jiaqian Wu’s lab has published in JCI Insight titled “The Investigation of Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Exosome in Spinal Cord Injury,” (external link) with Dallas L. Sheinberg, Haichao Wei, and Joseph S. Withrow serving as co-first authors. The study provided a comprehensive characterization of CSF exosomal miRNAs and proteins in human spinal cord injury and identified molecular signatures associated with injury severity and recovery. Many congratulations to Jiaqian Wu’s lab on this publication!
June 22, 2026	Dr. Xinzhu Yu hosted a CNG Monthly Seminar featuring Dr. Blanca Diaz-Castro, principal investigator at the University of Edinburgh and the UK Dementia Research Institute. In her talk, “Molecular alterations of the vasculature-astrocyte interactions in dementia,” Dr. Diaz-Castro discussed how the brain endothelium communicate with astrocytes and how these communications are relevant to human vasculature. She highlighted how disrupted endothelial–astrocyte communication may contribute to neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, providing new insights into vascular mechanisms underlying dementia.
June 22, 2026	Former PhD trainee Abhijeet S. Barath and research associate Aastha Dheer from Wu lab have published as co-first authors in JCI Insight titled “Microglial SWELL1 deficiency drives male-specific seizure vulnerability but paradoxical neuroprotection through impaired phagocytosis.” (external link) This paper, based on research done during their times in the Wu lab, demonstrated that loss of SWELL1 increased seizure severity while paradoxically protecting neurons by impairing microglial phagocytosis, revealing sex-specific mechanisms in epilepsy. Many congratulations to Wu lab on this publication!
May 27, 2026	Praveen Pallegar, MD-PhD student from Wu lab, has successfully presented and defended his thesis, “Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell-Microglia Interactions in TDP-43-related Neurodegeneration.” Praveen’s achievement reflects years of dedication and rigorous scientific inquiry. Many congratulations to Dr. Pallegar on this incredible accomplishment and wishing him continued success in his future endeavors!
May 21, 2026	Dr. Long-Jun Wu hosted a CNG Monthly Seminar featuring Dr. Simone Brioschi’s talk, “Brain perivascular macrophages regulate endothelial cell function via a cMAF-dependent transcriptional program in mouse and human.” Dr. Brioschi highlighted cMAF as a key transcription factor for brain perivascular macrophages in mice and cerebrovascular regulation. He described a new polymorphism in the cMAF locus correlating with higher cMAF activity and reduced Alzheimer’s disease risk.
May 15, 2026	Dr. Qingchun Tong hosted an IMM Seminar featuring Dr. Yanjun Sun, CPRIT Scholar and Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at UTHealth Houston. In his talk, “Neural Circuit dynamics of the subiculum in spatial learning and navigation,” Dr. Sun presented the findings of subicular corner cells that encode explicit geometric properties of corners. He further showed that concave and convex corners generalize their tuning to encode environmental concavity and convexity.
May 13, 2026	Zhiying Jiang, research scientist from Tong lab, has published a study in Nature Communications titled “Selective and differential roles of PVHCRH neurotransmitters in diet-induced obesity in mice.” (external link) The study demonstrates corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus as a key mediator for the diet-induced obesity induced by maladaptive stress responses. Many congratulations to Tong lab on this publication!
May 1, 2026	Dr. Qingchun Tong has received the 2026 President’s Scholar Award for Excellence (external link) in Research at UTHealth Houston. The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to neuroscience research and impactful work advancing the understanding of brain regulation and metabolism, paving the way for future innovative treatments.
April 24, 2026	CNG hosted the 3rd annual Hans J. Müller-Eberhard Symposium on Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology at UTHealth Houston. The symposium featured twelve scientists in the field to present cutting-edge discoveries and new scientific findings. Attendees had opportunities to engage with leading scientists and fellow researchers through in-person discussions and networking.
April 20, 2026	Dr. Dongjoo Choi has published in Neuro-Oncology titled “Glo1 promotes glioma progression by modulating Sox2 transcriptional networks in glioma stem-like cells.” (external link) The study demonstrated Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) as a key regulator of glioma stem cells (GSC) biology and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for GSC-directed intervention in glioblastoma. Many congratulations to Choi lab on this publication!
April 16, 2026	Dr. Seung Yeop Han from Dongjoo Choi’s lab presented the CNG Monthly Seminar titled “Astrocyte-Microglia Crosstalk in Aß Pathogenesis,” showing astrocytic Sox9 enhances amyloid-β clearance by reprogramming microglial metabolism and promoting disease-associated states in Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting a key role for astrocyte-microglia interactions.
April 14, 2026	Aubrey Bennett, postdoctoral trainee from Kang lab, has received the 2026 Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) Student Merit and Junior Investigator Travel Award. (external link) This award provides support to presenting author of a poster or a symposium speaker at the RSA Annual Scientific Meeting. Many congratulations Aubrey!
April 13, 2026	Dr. Long-Jun Wu hosted a CNG Special Seminar featuring Dr. Lin Mei (external link) from the Chinese Institutes for Medical Research. Dr. Mei presented “Regulation of GABAergic transmission by neuregulin 1 and ErbB4, both risk genes of depression and schizophrenia,” highlighting how NRG1–ErbB4 signaling regulates GABAergic transmission and neural circuit function. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how disruptions of GABA signaling may contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia.
March 20, 2026	Dr. Long-Jun Wu hosted an IMM Seminar featuring Dr. Zhongcong Xie from the Department of Anesthesiology at UTHealth Houston. Dr. Xie presented “Tau Phosphorylation and Mechanistic Insights of Postoperative Delirium.” Using preclinical models, he demonstrated that anesthesia, mechanical ventilation, and surgical pain can induce delirium-like behaviors, with p-tau217 emerging as a potential biomarker and mechanistic driver.
March 17, 2026	Dr. Hana Janova has published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences titled “Macrophage-glia interactions regulate immune damage to enteric neurons during West Nile virus infection.” (external link) The study identified resident muscularis macrophages as key regulators of glia-driven inflammation during enteric viral infection and protect enteric neurons from immune-mediated damage. Many congratulations to Janova lab on this publication!
March 15, 2026	Cunjin Su, postdoctoral fellow from Tong Lab, has published a study in Metabolism titled “An obligatory role for AgRP neurons in maintaining body temperature during time-restricted feeding.” (external link) The study demonstrates that AgRP neurons are essential for maintaining body temperature during restricted feeding, while being dispensable for body weight regulation with food ad libitum. Congratulations to the Tong Lab on this publication!
March 10, 2026	Dr. Long-Jun Wu hosted a CNG Special Seminar featuring Dr. Yi-Nan Gong (external link)from Houston Methodist Hospital. Dr. Gong presented a talk titled “Programmed Cell Death and Immune Responses in Diseases,” in which he highlighted the diverse forms of programmed cell death—including necroptosis, ferroptosis, and apoptosis—and discussed their mechanistic roles in disease pathogenesis, particularly in cancer and immune regulation.
March 5, 2026	Jiaying Zheng, postdoctoral trainee from the Wu lab, has received the IMMUNOLOGY2026 Travel Award (external link) from the American Association of Immunologists (AAI). This award supports AAI members by covering travel to the AAI annual meeting, allowing recipients to present their research and advance professional development. Many congratulations to Jiaying!
February 19, 2026	PhD student Kenneth Samuel from Yu lab presented the CNG Monthly Seminar titled “Neuromodulation of medial amygdala astrocytes in prosocial behavior,” highlighting that astrocyte, a major glial cell type in the CNS, can influence social behaviors by modulating neural circuit activity, underscoring the importance of neuron–astrocyte interactions.
February 10, 2026	Fangfang Qi, postdoctoral fellow from Wu lab, has published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation titled “Neutrophil-microglia interaction drives motor dysfunction in neuromyelitis optica model induced by subarachnoid AQP4-IgG.” (external link) In collaboration with Dr. Vanda Lennon, the study identifies neutrophil-derived C5a signaling through microglial C5aR1 as an early, therapeutically targetable driver of motor dysfunction in neuromyelitis optica. Many congratulations to the Wu lab on their publication!
January 29, 2026	Yuhan Cao, PhD student from Tong lab, has been awarded the Investing in Student Futures Scholarship (external link) from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UTHealth Houston. This endowment supports exceptional GSBS students who are making excellent progress and who are carrying out research in areas designated by the GSBS Deans. Congratulations Yuhan!
January 28, 2026	Dr. Wu and CNG hosted the American Society for Chinese Neuroscientists (ASCN) (external link) Symposium and Career Development Workshop in Houston, Texas. The symposium featured keynote speaker, Dr. Hongkui Zeng from Allen Institute, and eight diverse scientific sessions spanning the full spectrum of neuroscience research. The symposium fostered valuable networking opportunities and new collaborations among attendees.
January 21, 2026	Dr. Simone Brioschi’s lab has published paper in Nature Neuroscience titled “Diversity and immune dynamics of choroid plexus macrophages are shaped by distinct developmental origins.” (external link) The study identified three biologically distinct populations of choroid plexus macrophages and defines their developmental origins, niche specialization, and immune dynamics. Many congratulations to the Brioschi lab on their publication!
January 15, 2026	Dr. Haichao Wei from Jiaqian Wu’s lab presented the CNG Monthly Seminar titled “Molecular and Functional Heterogeneity of Astrocytes in Spinal Cord Injury and Alzheimer’s Disease,” highlighting potential astrocyte-mediated mechanisms driving neurodegenerative changes and identifying candidate targets for slowing or preventing Alzheimer’s disease progression.
January 12, 2026	Dr. Seungwoo Kang from Augusta University joined CNG as a tenure-track Associate Professor. His research focuses on investigating the neurobiological and glial mechanisms underlying addiction and its comorbidities. At CNG, Dr. Kang’s lab will continue leveraging advanced research approaches to identify brain-wide signatures that predict disease risk, contributing to the center’s mission of developing innovative neuroimmune therapies for brain disorders.
January 5, 2026	Dr. Hana Janova from Washington University joined CNG as a research-track Assistant Professor. She will work on peripheral neuroimmune mechanism of gut-brain axis. At CNG, Dr. Janova will continue advancing multidisciplinary research initiatives, building new collaborations, and contributing to the center’s mission of driving innovation in brain science.
January 1, 2026	Dr. Jiaqian Wu has been awarded a DPRIT seed grant (external link) titled “Unraveling Cellular Dynamics and Astrocyte-Mediated Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease Initiation and Progression” by UTHealth. The grant aims to accelerate dementia-focused research with potential to shape future breakthroughs. Many congratulations to Dr. Wu and her team!
December 18, 2025	Dr. Qingchun Tong, CNG Associate Director, hosted the monthly CNG Seminar at the Institute of Molecular Medicine. Speakers Dr. Cunjin Su and Dr. Dan Liu presented their research on neural basis for anorexia nervosa and hypothalamic neuron–astrocyte interactions in metabolic regulation, fostering engaging questions and discussions among attendees.
December 5, 2025	Dr. Long-Jun Wu hosted an IMM Seminar featuring Dr. Melanie Samuel (external link) from Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Samuel presented “Energy, Signal, Support: Microglia and Vasculature Integration of Neural Cues,” sharing insights into microglia–vascular interactions and their roles in neural signaling.
December 4, 2025	Jiaying Zheng, postdoctoral trainee from Wu lab, has been awarded a competitive Postdoctoral Fellowship by the American Heart Association (external link). This award supports advanced postdoctoral training by fostering scientific independence through strong mentorship, institutional support, and integration within an established investigative research environment. Many congratulations, Jiaying!
November 21, 2025	Dr. Dongjoo Choi, Assistant Professor at CNG, has published his study in Nature Neuroscience titled “Astrocytic Sox9 overexpression in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models promotes Aβ plaque phagocytosis and preserves cognitive function.” (external link) This study highlights the role of astrocytic Sox9 during aging and Alzheimer’s disease while identifying Sox9−MEGF10 signaling as a prospective astrocyte-based therapeutic approach to ameliorate cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disease.
November 11, 2025	Dr. Junichi Nabekura (external link), a leading neuroscientist and former director of the National Institute of Physiological Sciences (NIPS) in Japan, has been officially appointed as Visiting Professor in Glial Biology at the CNG. His pioneering work will further strengthen CNG’s research programs and international collaborations.
October 29, 2025	Dr. Long-Jun Wu was invited to deliver the Professor Dr. Prasop Ratanakorn lecture at the 28th annual Thai Neuroscience Society Conference (external link) in Thailand, where he highlighted CNG’s research contributions to neuroscience and its continued engagement with the global neuroscience community.
October 20, 2025	The CNG is pleased to welcome Dr. Anilkumar Pillai, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, as an affiliated faculty member. His research focuses on chronic stress, inflammation, and neurotrophins in schizophrenia, supported by over 15 grants including current awards from NIH and Department of Veteran Affairs. His expertise will help advance our translational neuroscience mission at CNG.
October 9, 2025	Emma Wheeler, postdoctoral trainee from Tong lab, received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (external link) (CCTS) T32 training program. T32 program provides resources for trainees to conduct scientifically rigorous research studies that are either clinical or translational in nature. Many congratulations to Emma for this impressive achievement!
September 24, 2025	The Wu Lab’s new Immunity publication has been featured in the UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School Newsletter. Dr. Wu noted that the discovery of rod-shaped microglia may play a protective role in neurodegeneration, laying foundation for new therapeutic targets in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
September 19, 2025	Manling Xie, former PhD trainee from Wu lab, has published in Immunity titled “Rod-shaped microglia interact with neuronal dendrites to regulate cortical excitability in TDP-43 related neurodegeneration.” (external link)This paper, based on research done during her PhD training in the Wu lab, showed rod-shaped microglia play a neuroprotective role by attenuating cortical hyperexcitability in TDP-43-related neurodegeneration. Many congratulations to the Wu lab on their publication!
September 10, 2025	The Wu Lab published “Harnessing the Power of Brain Immunity in Health and Diseases” (external link) in the UTHealth Houston Neuroscience Research Center Newsletter. Highlighting research done at the CNG, the newsletter explores microglia–neuron communication, synaptic regulation, and neuroimmune mechanisms in neurodegeneration, with the goal of advancing therapeutic strategies for treating brain disorders.
September 4, 2025	The CNG was represented at the recent IMM Research Retreat, where Dr. Long-Jun Wu presented an overview of the center’s new faculty and projects. As a highlight, an image of rod-shaped microglia from the Wu Lab’s Immunity publication was featured on the retreat cover. This event provided a valuable platform for sharing research updates and ideas.
September 2, 2025	The CNG is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Yuanzhong Xu to tenure-track Assistant Professor, effective September 2, 2025. Dr. Xu’s research leverages advanced genetic, imaging, and behavioral techniques to uncover neural mechanisms regulating feeding, emotional responses, and reward approach. Congratulations to Dr. Xu on this achievement and look forward to his continued contributions.
August 26, 2025	We are excited to announce the launch of the CNG Seminar Series this October. The CNG monthly seminars will be held on the third Thursday of each month from 4:00–5:00 p.m. in the Margolis Lounge. Each seminar will feature presentations from CNG resident labs highlighting published research and works-in-progress. The CNG seminars are scheduled on the following dates in fiscal year 2025–2026: October 16, 2025, November 20, 2025, January 15, 2026, February 19, 2026, April 16, 2026, May 21, 2026, July 16, 2026. August 20, 2026. Please mark your calendars and join us!
August 25, 2025	The CNG is pleased to welcome Dr. Simone Brioschi, who joins the faculty as a tenure-track Assistant Professor. Dr. Brioschi brings a strong background in neuroimmunology, with research interests focusing on the brain macrophages and their roles in both brain health and disease. At the CNG, Dr. Brioschi will further his research into neuroimmune interactions, contributing to the center’s mission of advancing brain science and accelerating the development of neuroimmune therapies for neurological disorders.
August 24, 2025	Mekenzie Peshoff, PhD student from Wu Lab, has been awarded a competitive NIH F31 fellowship to support her research on the project titled “Understanding the role of triggering receptor on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) on microglia and macrophages across glioma progression.” Mekenzie’s advice on F31 application were highlighted in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (external link) News at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth Houston.
August 21, 2025	Eunyoung Kim and Hairuo Du, PhD trainees from Yu lab, have published as co-first authors in Nature Communications titled “Prefrontal cortex astrocytes modulate distinct neuronal populations to control anxiety-like behavior.” (external link) This study uncovers mechanisms underlying diverse astrocyte–neuron interactions and provides key insights into emotional disorders. Congratulations to the Yu lab on their publication!
August 21, 2025	Jordy Sepulveda, CNG trainee from Wu lab, has been awarded a prestigious NIH K00 award from the National Institute on Aging (external link). This Post-Doctoral Transition Award supports exceptional graduate students who have shown strong potential and commitment to becoming independent researchers, helping them successfully bridge the transition from graduate students to postdoctoral research positions. This 4-year award will support Jordy’s research on microglial Ca2+ signaling in neurodegeneration at Wu lab. Many congrats to Jordy for this impressive achievement!
July 22, 2025	Dr. Hongli Li, postdoctoral fellow from Tong lab at the CNG, has published a first-author paper in Cell Reports titled “An alternative neural basis underlying leptin resistance.” (external link) The study reveals activation of Arc non-LepR neurons, even with intact leptin-pSTAT3 signaling, is sufficient to cause obesity and leptin resistance. Many congratulations to the Tong lab on their publication!
June 2, 2025	The CNG is pleased to announce that Dr. Dongjoo Choi has officially joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Choi brings strong expertise in glial biology and neurodegeneration, with a particular focus on the roles of astrocytes in brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and glioblastoma. At CNG, Dr. Choi’s lab will continue to pursue investigations in astrocyte-specific transcriptional programs and their roles in disease onset, progression, and recovery—advancing the center’s mission of developing innovative neuroimmune therapies for brain disorders.
June 1, 2025	Dr. Jiaqian Wu, professor and founding member at CNG, together with Dr. Jason Huse, Professor of MD Anderson Cancer Center, have been awarded a R21 grant titled “Investigating the impact of glioma-associated germline risk alleles on neurodevelopmental trajectories” (external link) by NINDS. The major goals of this project are to deploying cutting-edge-omic technologies to decipher the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of neuroepithelial differentiation. Many congratulations to Dr. Wu and her team!
May 29, 2025	Abhijeet S. Barath, a CNG trainee from the Wu Lab in the Neuroscience track at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (external link), successfully defended his PhD thesis, entitled “Swell1 Loss in Microglia Drives Male-Specific Seizure Vulnerability but Broad Neuroprotection through Impaired Lysosomal Biogenesis,” at UTHealth-Houston on May 29, 2025. Congratulations Abhijeet!
May 27, 2025	Min-Hee Yi, former postdoctoral trainee from Wu lab, has published a first-author paper in Cell Reports titled “Optogenetic activation of cortical microglia promotes neuronal activity and pain hypersensitivity.” (external link) This study, based on research conducted during her time in the Wu Lab, demonstrates that optogenetic activation of cortical microglia induces pain hypersensitivity through enhanced neuronal activity and ATP signaling.
May 23, 2025	The CNG is delighted to welcome Dr. Xinzhu Yu, joining the faculty as an Associate Professor. Dr. Yu brings extensive expertise in astrocyte physiology, with a focus on how these glial cells contribute to brain function and play a role in neurological and psychiatric disorders. At the CNG, Dr. Yu will continue to advance her multidisciplinary research, fostering new collaborations and contributing to the center’s mission of driving innovation in brain science and developing neuroimmune therapy for brain disorders.
May 15, 2025	Praveen Pallegar, CNG trainee from Wu lab, has received F31 Research Fellowship Award (external link) from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the NIH. This award supports promising predoctoral researchers in the scientific-related field by providing mentored training during their dissertation research, with the goal of fostering their development into independent and productive scientists. Many congratulations to Praveen on this well-deserved achievement!
May 2, 2025	CNG staff Koichi Haruwaka, from the Wu Lab, received the Early Career Epilepsy Award (external link) from the Epilepsy Exchange held at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. At the conference, Koichi presented his research on microglial interaction with neurovasculature in the maintenance of the blood-brain barrier during acute seizures in a poster session. Congratulations to Koichi on this well-deserved recognition of his work.
April 25, 2025	CNG director Dr. Long-Jun Wu hosted the 2nd Annual Hans J. Müller-Eberhard Symposium on Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology (external link) at UT Health Houston. The symposium featured thirteen leading experts in the field, who presented the latest research advancement in neuroimmunology and glial biology. Attendees had opportunities to engage with leading scientists and fellow researchers through in-person discussions and networking.
April 23, 2025	CNG is excited to announce the official launch of Neuroscience Behavioral Core. We are dedicated to advancing research in the field of neuroscience and neuroimmunology by providing cutting-edge tools and service for studying mouse behaviors. The Core is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including automated Behavioral Tracking Systems, Behavioral Testing Equipment, and Recording Systems etc. We encourage interdisciplinary collaborations and offer training programs on mouse behavioral testing and the use of our equipment in the Core. For more questions, please email the Core manager, Neo Shi ([email protected]). For booking the equipment and space at the Neuroscience Behavioral Core, please visit the Core website.
April 15, 2025	Dr. Yuanzhong Xu, Research Assistant Professor from CNG, has been awarded a R01 Research Project Grant (external link) by the NIMH. This is a 5-year award with expected $1.95 million in total funding. Dr. Xu’ R01 project will investigate how PVH Prodynorphin neurocircuits mediate real-time flexibility between defensive flight and freezing behaviors, aiming to elucidate the neural underpinnings that encode adaptive defensive responses. Congratulations to Dr. Xu and his team!
March 26, 2025	Mekenzie Peshoff, CNG trainee from Wu lab, has received the 2024-2025 Dee S. and Patricia Osborne Endowed Scholarship (external link) in the Neurosciences Research Excellence Post-Candidacy Award from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. This award recognizes outstanding neuroscience graduate students for their exceptional research accomplishments. Congratulations to Mekenzie for this impressive achievement!
March 24, 2025	CNG director Dr. Long-Jun Wu will be hosting the 2nd Hans J. Müller-Eberhard Symposium on Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology (external link) on April 25, 2025 at UT Health Houston. The symposium will feature 13 leading scientist speakers, each presenting cutting-edge research, latest findings and emerging advancements in the field of neuroimmunology and glial biology. Seats for this event are limited, please register early to secure your spot. For more details, please visit our CNG Events page.
March 21, 2025	Abhijeet Barath, CNG trainee from the Wu Lab, has matched into the Yale Neurology Residency Program (external link), joining the class of 2029 as one of only three international medical graduates. In addition to outstanding clinical training, the program offers residents opportunities to tailor their experience in basic and translational research, medical education, global health, health equity, and quality improvement. Congratulations to Abhijeet on this remarkable achievement!
February 28, 2025	Shunyi Zhao, PhD candidate from Wu lab, in collaboration with Lingxiao Wang, Dimitrios Kleidonas, Fangfang Qi, Yue Liang, Jiaying Zheng and Anthony D Umpierre, has published “Chemogenetic activation of microglial Gi signaling decreases microglial surveillance and impairs neuronal synchronization (external link)” in Science Advances. The study shows that activating microglial Gi signaling can regulate neuronal circuit function, offering a potential pharmacological target for neuromodulation through microglia.
February 15, 2025	CNG trainees, Yuhan Cao and Cunjin Su from Tong lab, received the Visual Poster Awards at the Chinese-American Diabetes Association (CADA) (external link) Winter Symposium held at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston. The symposium provides a platform for communication among members to advance scientific research towards the treatment and prevention of diabetes and related metabolic diseases.
February 11, 2025	Dr. Long-Jun Wu was featured by the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) (external link) to highlight his research and role as Senior Editor for the Neuroscience journal. Neuroscience is IBRO's flagship journal, publishing original research on the scientific study of the nervous system and advances the organization’s global neuroscience activities.
January 3, 2025	Mekenzie Peshoff, CNG trainee from Wu lab, has received NIH F31 fellowship award (external link). This award recognizes and supports promising doctoral candidates in the scientific-related field to develop into independent research scientists. Congratulations to Mekenzie for this well-deserved achievement!
December 20, 2024	Mekenzie Peshoff, PhD candidate from Wu lab, has been appointed the John J. Kopchick fellow from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UTHealth Houston. This fellowship is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional character, leadership in extracurricular activities, research excellence and academic achievement. Congratulations to Mekenzie for receiving this prestigious honor!
December 7, 2024	CNG trainees, Fiona Zheng and Koichi Haruwaka from Wu lab, received the best poster awards for their outstanding research poster presentations at the 30th Annual Neuroscience Poster Session (external link) held at the Texas Medical Center, Houston. The awards recognize the dedication and enthusiasm Fiona and Koichi bring to the neuroscience research field. Many congrats, Fiona and Koichi!
November 8, 2024	Praveen Pallegar, PhD candidate from Wu lab received the amazing score of top 1 percentile for his NINDS F31 (external link) application. This highly competitive fellowship recognizes promising predoctoral individuals who demonstrate the potential to become independent investigators in health-related areas. This award recognizes Praveen’s commitment and potential to make meaningful contributions to the neuroscience community. Many congrats, Praveen!
October 29, 2024	Dr. Long-Jun Wu was invited to give a talk for CNG entitled “Brain Immune Cells: Friend or Foe?” at the 2024 UTHealth Houston IMMpact Symposium. Dr. Wu presented his laboratory’s main research projects, focusing on the role of microglia in neurodegeneration and microglia regulation in neuronal network. The talk concluded with appreciation for the generous support from the Wallace family and Dunn Foundation.
September 16, 2024	Postdoctoral trainee, Dr. Aastha Dheer (external link), from Dr. Long-Jun Wu’s lab has officially accepted an Assistant Professor position at the Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, a multidisciplinary research university committed to excellence in discovery and innovation in India. In addition to this significant career achievement, Dr. Dheer also has been awarded the prestigious Ramalingaswami re-entry fellowship, granted by the Department of Biotechnology in India.
September 5, 2024	Dr. Long-Jun Wu, Director of the CNG, and Dean Dr. Hancock introduced the Center for Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology (CNG) at the IMM Research Retreat. Dr. Wu delivered a talk highlighting the center's mission and innovative approach to understanding brain immune system to develop future neuroimmune therapy. This event provided a valuable platform for fostering collaborations within the research community.
August 30, 2024	We are pleased to announce that Dr. Qingchun Tong has been awarded the Hans J. Muller-Eberhard, M.D. and Irma Gigli, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Immunology. This endowment recognizes Dr. Tong’s exceptional achievements and provides support for his continued cutting-edge research.
August 21, 2024	Dr. Long-Jun Wu at the CNG has been awarded R33 grant (4R33AT012544-02) (external link)entitled “Identification of botanical hHv1 channel blockers as analgesics for neuropathic pain” as co-principle investigator, together with Drs Steve Goldstein and Ruiming Zhao at UC Irvine, by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The project focuses on addressing the unmet medical need of effective therapeutics for neuropathic pain.
May 4, 2024	Postdoctoral trainee, Dr. Tony Umpierre, from Dr. Long-Jun Wu’s lab at the CNG has officially accepted a tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota (external link). Congratulations Dr. Umpierre!
April 26, 2024	CNG director Dr. Long-Jun Wu hosted the first Inaugural Symposium on the Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology at UT Health Houston, honoring the life and contribution of immunologist Dr. Hans J.Müller-Eberhard, the first director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine. The symposium invited thirteen leading experts in the field, who delivered enriching and stimulating presentations on the latest advancements in neuroimmunology and glial biology.
April 12, 2024	Dr. Long-Jun Wu lab at the CNG has published research article titled “Microglial P2Y6 calcium signaling promotes phagocytosis and shapes neuroimmune responses in epileptogenesis (external link) in Neuron. Congratulations to Dr. Tony Umpierre, the first author, and the entire team for this significant achievement.
March 31, 2024	The CNG is pleased to announce the addition of eight new affiliated faculty members, bringing a wealth of expertise from several key disciplines: From Neurology: • Dr. Jaroslaw Aronowski, Professor • Dr. Juneyoung Lee, Assistant Professor • Dr. John W. Lindsey, Professor • Dr. Fudong Liu, Associate Professor • Dr. Louise McCullough, Professor • Dr. Rodney Ritzel, Assistant Professor From Neurosurgery: Dr. Eunsu Park, Assistant Professor From Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine: Dr. Wei Cao, Professor This exceptional team will significantly enrich the CNG’s mission in neuroimmunology and glial biology, advancing our research and clinical goals.
March 28, 2024	CNG director Dr. Long-Jun Wu was interviewed by Dr. Mark Mattson for the Brain Ponderings podcast series (external link). The discussion explored the critical roles of microglia in neuroplasticity, chronic pain, brain injury, and disease. Dr. Wu shared valuable insights from his research, highlighting its potential impact on brain health and new therapeutic approaches for neurological disorders.
February 7, 2024	Dr. Qingchun Tong at the CNG has published research article titled “An excitatory projection from the basal forebrain to the ventral tegmental area that underlies anorexia-like phenotypes (external link)” in Neuron. The study reveals overactivation of the glutamatergic BF → VTA circuit as a potential cause of anorexia-like phenotypes involving reduced dopamine release. Many congratulations to Dr. Tong and the team!
January 5, 2024	We are excited to announce the official launch of the Center for Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology (CNG) at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School. As an interdisciplinary research center, CNG’s mission is to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between nervous system and immune system, with the goal of developing neuroimmune therapies for brain disorders. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the CNG brings together talented faculty using cutting-edge techniques to address a wide range of neurological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, pain, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and metabolic disorders. The center started with three resident members, each bringing unique expertise: Dr. Long-Jun Wu serves as the Professor and Founding Director at CNG. He holds the C. Harold and Lorine G. Wallace Distinguished University Chair. Dr. Wu leads research on neuroimmune interaction in normal and diseased brain, utilizing advanced genetic models and cutting-edge technologies to uncover therapeutic targets for brain diseases. Dr. Wu is widely recognized for his impactful research, earning him the NINDS Outstanding Investigator Award. He also serves as section editor for many journals and is a dedicated mentor, honored as Teacher of the Year at Mayo Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Qingchun Tong serves as the Professor and Associate Director at the CNG. He holds the Cullen Chair in Molecular Medicine and Hans J. Muller-Eberhard, MD, PhD and Irma Gigli, MD Distinguished Chair in Immunology. Dr. Tong’s research focuses on identifying key targets underlying eating disorders, obesity, and diabetes. His work has been published in many prestigious journals. Dr. Jiaqian Wu, professor and founding member at CNG, combines neuroscience and systems-based approaches to investigate glia cells and neural stem cell differentiation, aiming to identify key regulators as therapeutic targets. Dr. Wu has received distinguished awards and published research in high-impact journals. The CNG is in its nascent stages and is committed to providing opportunities for emerging scientists to advance our understanding of brain health and disease.