معرفی
John Lukens is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on neuroimmunology, neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases, and glial biology, with specific interests in Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, autism, microglia, and neuroinflammation.
- Email: jrl7n@virginia.edu
- Phone: 434-924-7782
- Lab website: lukenslab.com
The lab investigates how innate immune signaling contributes to neurological disorders, aiming to uncover therapeutic targets by studying immune-nervous system interactions in diseases like Alzheimer’s, MS, TBI, and autism. They also explore DNA damage surveillance by AIM2 inflammasomes in neurodevelopment and meningeal lymphatic dysfunction in traumatic brain injury.
Recent lab milestones include Dr. Jess Thanos defending her PhD thesis (July 2025), Lexi and Clint winning trainee talk and poster awards (July 2025), and undergraduates Ben, Jason, Marina, and Nicholas receiving summer research fellowships. In July 2025, the lab represented at the Neuroimmune GRC meeting in Italy, and Josh Samuels was awarded a Wagner Fellowship.
