Liu Lab
Fudong Liu, MD – Professor
Education & Training
MS Neuroscience, Wannan Medical College – Wuhu, China
MD Bengbu Medical College – Bengbu, China
Residency Neurology, Yijishan Hospital – Anhui, China
Areas of Interest
Research interests: neuroinflammation and sex differences in stroke
Research
Research interests in Dr. Liu’s lab focus on innate immune responses and sex differences in cerebral ischemia. Post-stroke inflammation is characterized as either pro- or anti-inflammatory response to neuronal damage, and significantly contributes to stroke pathology as well as functional recovery. We explore regulatory pathways underlying the neuroinflammation aiming to suppress pro-inflammatory and/or promote anti-inflammatory activation of immune cells. Stroke is a sexually dimorphic disease throughout the lifespan. We are interested in how the sex-specific stroke phenotypes are regulated in neonatal, young and aged brains. While hormonal effects play important roles in the sex difference in young stroke patients, we have found chromosomal effects in mediating the stroke sensitivity in aged brains. By using genetically modified animal models, we study X escapee genes that escape from X chromosome inactivation, and try to understand whether and how these genes impacts on the sexual dimorphism.
Conelius Ngwa, PhD – Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Education and Training
BS Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1-Cameroon – Yaounde, Cameroon (2007)
MS Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast – Belfast, UK (2008)
PhD Biomedical Sciences, Aston University Birmingham – Birmingham, UK (2014)
Areas of Interest
Research interests: Neuroinflammation in stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Clinical interests: Identification of biological targets for therapeutic applications in stroke patients.
Research
My primary project focus on identifying regulatory mechanisms underlying microglia activation in stroke. I am exploring the role of microglia in ischemic stroke and cross talks of microglia, astrocytes, neurons, and other immune cells. My long term goal is to identify cellular/molecular targets of therapeutic relevance to stroke patients.
Hobbies & Interests
Playing soccer, and spending time with family and friends.
Afzal Misrani, PhD – Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Education and Training
BS Physiology, University of Sindh – Jamshoro, Pakistan (2009)
MPhil Physiology, University of Sindh – Jamshoro, Pakistan (2013)
PhD Physiology (Neuroscience), South China Normal University – Guangzhou, China (2018)
Areas of Interest
Research interests: Mitochondrial dysfunction in sleep loss-induced models and Alzheimer’s Disease, mitochondrial dysfunction and immune exhaustion in stroke, and oxidative stress and gut microbiota in stroke.
Clinical interests: Development of targeted therapeutics for stroke patients.
Research
My previous research focused on identifying mitochondrial, cellular, and molecular changes from sleep deprivation in a mouse model. I have also studied neuroinflammatory signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction in a mouse model for Alzheimer’s. My current research investigates age and sex differences in immune reactivity in ischemic stroke, and I am interested in studying how mitochondrial function is modulated in stroke.
Hobbies & Interests
Spending time with family and friends, traveling, and playing Cricket.
Research Assistants
Valli Kanaka Manyam – Research Assistant I
Education & Training
MS Human Genetics, Andhra University – India