EUEmory University · Pharmacology
Neurodegeneration and Stress Response Laboratory
Zixu Mao · Atlanta, Georgia
Research Focus
Dr. Zixu Mao's lab at Emory University focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The lab investigates how cellular processes, particularly involving exosomes and lysosomes, respond to stress and contribute to neurodegeneration. By studying these processes, the lab aims to uncover new therapeutic targets and improve our understanding of how these devastating diseases progress.
Alzheimer's DiseaseParkinson's Diseaseexosome biogenesislysosomal functionneurodegenerationVMP1LRRK2chloride homeostasisstress responseautophagy
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the role of VMP1 in exosome biogenesis and its impact on Alzheimer's disease.
AIM 02Determine how pathogenic stress alters VMP1-mediated exosome biogenesis in neurons.
AIM 03Explore the regulatory effects of LRRK2 on lysosomal chloride homeostasis in Parkinson's disease.
AIM 04Assess the molecular and cellular effects of lysosomal dysfunction in neurodegenerative models.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemolecular cloningimmunohistochemistryWestern blotanimal modelsRNA extractionPCRCRISPRbiochemical assaysmicroscopy
Output against the department
Publications89bottom 21% of dept.365th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations16ktop 24% of dept.111th of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.