PainAcid causes a painful sensation when injected under the skin. This unpleasant sensation is widely experienced by patients who are injected with pharmaceutical products containing citric acid. In our lab, we are interested in exploring mechanism by which acid and other chemical irritants causes pain.
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Yang and Lai. 2021. The Journal of Neuroscience
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Wu and Lai. 2021, Brain Research
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MicrogliaMicroglia are the predominant CNS-resident macrophages. In addition to mediating neuroinflammation, emerging evidence has demonstrated their potential role in learning and memory and brain repair. In our lab, we are investigating the role of microglia in brain health and functions.
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Blood-Brain BarrierThe blood-brain barrier, which normally regulates exchange of nutrients and metabolites, becomes disrupted upon neuroinflammation by acute brain insults or in chronic neurodegenerative diseases. This disruption of the blood-brain barrier can increase intracranial pressure and lead to brain edema, a major cause of death in young patients, or further exacerbate neuroinflammation and neuronal injury. In our lab, we are interested in learning how the blood-brain barrier becomes disrupted. In addition to protecting the brain, the blood-brain barrier also hinders drug delivery into the brain. Therefore, we are also exploring methods to therapeutically open the blood-brain barrier to facilitate drug delivery.
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Liao et al., 2019 Brain Research
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Wang and Lai. 2021 eNeuro
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Stroke and excitotoxicityDuring stroke, blood supply to the brain is interrupted. ATP is lost, neurons become depolarized, and the brain becomes functionally impaired. However, even if blood supply is returned, the brain continues to deteriorate. During this period, a neuronal death-signaling cascade, known as excitotoxicity, begins with ischemic glutamate release and NMDA receptor stimulation, and ends with activation of death-signaling proteins and genes. The death signaling cascade continues many days and weeks after blood supply fully recovers from stroke. In our lab, we are interested in understanding the mechanisms by which excitotoxicity occurs. In addition to fulfilling our curiosity, which is on its own rewarding, we hope that our work can one day help discover better treatments for stroke patients.
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