Welcome to the Chen Lab!
Astrocytes make up the majority of glial cells in the human brain. It is essential to study their roles in brain health and disease. Our goal is to understand how astrocytes develop and function in the nervous system.
Research
We use fruit flies and zebrafish to explore how astrocytes develop, how their plasticity is regulated, and the roles of astrocytes in modulating neural circuits.
Astrocyte morphogenesis
Astrocytes exhibit a tortuous morphology with elaborate fine processes closely interacting with surrounding neural elements. We are interested in unraveling the molecular basis of astrocyte growth.
Astrocyte plasticity
Astrocytes tile with each other to ensure the full coverage of synaptic neuropil during development. We are exploring how astrocyte tiling plasticity is regulated in development and aging.
Astrocytes in neural circuits
Astrocytes are integral to nervous system formation and function. We are interested in understanding how astrocyte dysfunction influences neural circuit assembly and activity.
Jiakun Chen, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Mady Chlebowski, B.S.
Graduate Student (BBSP)
joint student with the Celia Shiau Lab
Jenna Norton, B.S.
Graduate Student (BBSP)
Taino Encarnacion, B.S.
Research Technician
Catherine Bulanadi
Undergraduate Student
Rebecca Zhang
Undergraduate Student
Publications
Chen, J. et al. Astrocyte growth is driven by the Tre1/S1pr1 phospholipid-binding G protein-coupled receptor. Neuron (2023). https://doi.org:10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.008
Chen, J., Poskanzer, K. E., Freeman, M. R. & Monk, K. R. Live-imaging of astrocyte morphogenesis and function in zebrafish neural circuits. Nat Neurosci 23, 1297-1306 (2020). https://doi.org:10.1038/s41593-020-0703-x
Chen Lab at UNC-Chapel Hill 