Erik Ullian

Erik Ullian is a Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), with a focus on neuroscience. His research spans astrocyte biology, synaptic plasticity, and neurodegenerative diseases, supported by prestigious awards such as the NIH New Innovator Award and Allen Distinguished Investigator Award.

• Education: BA in Biological Science (University of Chicago, 1991), PhD in Neuroscience (UCSF, 1997), Postdoc in Neurobiology (Stanford, 2004)

His work explores astrocyte-neuron interactions, neuroinflammation, and mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and glioblastoma. Key methodologies include CRISPRi screening, brain organoids, and transcriptomic analysis.

Recent publications highlight TDP-43 pathology in ALS, glucose metabolism restoration in Alzheimer's, and astrocyte roles in cancer suppression. Earlier contributions include neurodevelopmental studies on synaptic mapping and SARS-CoV-2 tropism for astrocytes.

• Scientific Awards
  • Epilepsy training grant award (2001)
  • Zaffaroni research fellowship in addiction research (2002)
  • Sandler Award (2004)
  • Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (2005)
  • March of Dimes Basil O’Connor Award (2006)
  • Research to Prevent Blindness- New Investigator Award (2009)
  • NIH New Innovator Award (2014)
  • Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research (2015)
  • Allen Distinguished Investigator Award (2015)