Tsai-Yi Lu

Tsai-Yi Lu, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Her research focuses on oligodendrocyte lineage cells, neuron-glia interactions, and their roles in brain health and disease. She leads the Lu Lab, which opened in 2023 and is actively recruiting graduate students.

Education:

• Ph.D., 2015, University of Massachusetts Medical School
• Postdoctoral Scholar, 2015–2016, University of California, Los Angeles
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2017–2023, Johns Hopkins University

Her research interests center on oligodendrocyte lineage homeostasis across lifespan, OPC reactivity during brain injury, and myelin loss in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Using in vivo imaging, transgenic mouse models, and pharmacological approaches, her lab investigates how neuron-OPC communication regulates myelin production and maintenance.

Dr. Lu’s recent publications reveal key mechanisms in glial biology, including neurotransmitter regulation of OPCs and signaling pathways in axon degeneration. Her work spans neuroscience, cell biology, and molecular genetics, with a strong emphasis on in vivo models and imaging. Trends in her research show a progression from Drosophila models of glial function to mammalian systems focusing on oligodendrocytes and astrocytes in health and disease.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in provided text.

Dr. Lu mentors graduate students in the Lu Lab, including Casey and Berenice. Her lab is equipped in MR4 Rooms 6111 (lab) and 6112 (office) and is actively pursuing research on neuron-glia crosstalk. She employs rigorous experimental design and cutting-edge technology to uncover fundamental mechanisms of glial function. The Lu Lab is part of the broader neuroscience community at UVA, collaborating within the BIG Center and Neurodegenerative Disease Research Coalition.