Pui-Ying Lam

Pui-Ying (Penny) Lam, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her research focuses on developing novel chemo-optogenetic tools and studying neuroinflammation mechanisms using zebrafish and Danionella cerebrum models. Key projects include TRPswitch technology for vertebrate TRPA1 channels and live imaging of innate immune cell behavior.

Lam earned her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison under Dr. Anna Huttenlocher, followed by postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and the University of Utah with Dr. Randall Peterson. She has received prestigious awards including an NIH BRAIN Initiative K99/R00 award and an American Heart Association fellowship.

Research interests span small molecule screening, optogenetic actuators, and understanding microglia/macrophage dynamics in neuroinflammatory diseases. Her lab combines advanced imaging with molecular and pharmacological approaches to bridge basic science and translational medicine.

• Labs: Lam Lab (Medical College of Wisconsin)
• Funding: NIH BRAIN Initiative (R00NS112599)
• Recruiting: PhD/Master’s trainees and research technologists