Ling Cao

Dr. Ling Cao is a Professor of Immunology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. She chairs UNE’s institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Her research focuses on neuroimmune mechanisms of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain and HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy. She employs rodent models and human subject research to bridge basic science and clinical practice.

Education:

• M.D., Clinical Medicine, Beijing Medical University (Peking University Health Science Center), 1997
• Ph.D., Toxicology, SUNY Albany, 2002

Research Interests: Her work integrates behavioral/cognitive sciences, bioinformatics, immunology, molecular biology, and neuroscience. She explores cytokine regulation, microglial activation, and CD40 signaling pathways in pain mechanisms. Recent studies include CGRP and CCL2 roles in neuropathic pain and murine retrovirus-induced neuropathy.

Lab & Mentoring: Her lab mentors students in translational research. Notable advisees include Virginia McLane (now in pharmaceuticals) and Eliza Grlickova-Duzevik (Assistant Clinical Professor at UNE). She emphasizes bridging basic research with clinical applications, particularly in pain management and immunological responses.

Key Contributions: Her work has advanced understanding of neuroimmune interactions in chronic pain, with studies published in Journal of Neurochemistry, European Journal of Immunology, and Journal of Neuroimmunology. Ongoing research explores calcitonin gene-related peptide pathways and spinal cord inflammation.