Na Zhao

Na Zhao, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Jacksonville, FL, where she leads the Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Laboratory. Her research focuses on dissecting molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly the roles of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) in Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, tauopathies, and TDP-43 proteinopathies. Employing iPSC models, transgenic mice, and human postmortem tissue, her lab investigates brain lipid metabolism, microglial function, and protein aggregation to develop targeted therapies.

Her key research areas include:

• APOE in Lewy Body Dementia: Elucidating APOE4's pathomechanisms and therapeutic targeting.
• APOE in Tauopathies/TDP-43 Proteinopathies: Examining isoform-specific effects on protein aggregation.
• TREM2 in Neurodegeneration: Studying microglial immune responses and neuroprotection.

Recent publications (2022–2024) emphasize APOE/TREM2 interactions, microglial modulation, and organoid modeling, with trends toward identifying isoform-specific therapeutics and neuroimmune cross-talk. Funded by NIH, BrightFocus Foundation, and Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, her work bridges basic science and clinical applications.