Assistant Professor
Chih Hung Lo, Ph.D.
Chih Hung obtained his Ph.D. from University of Minnesota where he investigated the molecular mechanisms of inflammation (TNF receptor signaling) and neurodegeneration (tau aggregation) and launched several drug discovery campaigns. In his postdoctoral trainings, Chih Hung delved into the neurobiology of aging by utilizing mouse genetics to study Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School and performed neuropathological studies on multiple sclerosis (MS) at Yale School of Medicine. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Chih Hung was a Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellow and an Early-Career Investigator in LKC School of Medicine at NTU Singapore, where he studied the role of autophagy and lysosomal dysfunction driven by TNF receptor signaling and tau aggregation in AD. Chih Hung is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, and BioInspired Institute at Syracuse University.
Chih Hung’s research interests focus on dissecting the interplay between inflammation and autolysosomal dysfunction that drives neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in AD and MS, as well as obesity-induced body-brain interaction. The translational aspect of his research combines the use of interdisciplinary approaches to elucidate the structure-function relationships of TNF receptors and conformational ensembles of intrinsically disordered proteins. He applied the structural and conformational understanding of these proteins in biosensor engineering and high-throughput screening for drug discovery targeting inflammation as well as metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. He also has a keen interest in nanomedicine engineering for brain targeting. Chih Hung holds 3 patents and has published over 35 articles in reputable journals including Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Translational Neurodegeneration, Journal of Neuroinflammation, Nature Communications, PNAS, ACS Nano, and Science Signaling.