Peng Zheng

Peng Zheng is an Associate Lecturer at the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the same institution, awarded with Examiners' Commendation for Outstanding Thesis. His research focuses on neurodegenerative mechanisms, microglia biology, and the role of autophagy in aging and disease.

Education: PhD in Neuroscience (University of Wollongong, Australia). Certifications include Doctor of Philosophy with Examiners' Commendation for Outstanding Thesis.

Research interests include cannabinoid neuroprotection, gut-brain axis interactions, and drug-induced aging processes. His work combines molecular, cellular, and animal models to investigate pathways such as mitophagy, neuroinflammation, and synaptic plasticity. Recent studies explore the impact of dietary factors (e.g., fiber, butyrate) on cognitive health and obesity-related neurodegeneration.

He has led two internal grants: a 2024 grant on quinolinic acid's effects on microglia senescence, and another on early-career researcher enabling initiatives. Current supervision includes projects on triterpene's cognitive benefits and antidepressant impacts during pregnancy.

Peng's lab investigates neurodegenerative diseases and aging through multidisciplinary approaches, with a focus on translational research for therapeutic interventions.