Weiquan (Wendy) Zhu

Our lab investigates the critical role of vascular dysfunction in the onset and progression of inflammatory diseases and aging, particularly within the central nervous system (CNS), including the retina. My research journey began during my postdoctoral training, where I focused on identifying pathways that compromise vascular stability—a key factor in both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions such as sepsis, influenza, and arthritis. As an independent investigator, I expanded my research to encompass neuroinflammatory diseases. The primary objective of my lab is to elucidate how vascular instability drives disease pathology and to uncover potential therapeutic targets for conditions like Age-related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Multiple Sclerosis, and Alzheimer's Disease.

Our lab made a significant breakthrough by identifying that inflammation-induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) within the CNS disrupts the blood-CNS barrier (BCNSB), playing a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of neuroinflammatory diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). We found that inhibiting EndoMT not only prevents vascular damage but also promotes remyelination and functional recovery in MS animal models, all without compromising the immune system—a notable challenge in current MS therapies. These findings open promising new avenues for therapeutic interventions in MS and potentially other neuroinflammatory diseases.