Martin
Hsu

Dr. Hsu is a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Jenny Ting in the Department of Genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he studied the role of meningeal lymphatics in regulating CNS autoimmunity. Dr. Hsu’s current research focuses on understanding how brain support cells called astrocytes contribute to Alzheimer’s disease progression. Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the brain and play critical roles in maintaining neuronal health, but undergo drastic changes during Alzheimer’s disease that can accelerate or protect against neurodegeneration. With support from this fellowship, Dr. Hsu is investigating the role of NLRX1 — a multifunctional protein that sits at the intersection of immune signaling and cellular metabolism — in driving these disease-related changes in astrocytes. Preliminary findings from his research have revealed that removing NLRX1 specifically from astrocytes reduces hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease including amyloid plaques, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline in mouse models, pointing to NLRX1 as a promising and previously unexplored therapeutic target. Dr. Hsu hopes that by uncovering the mechanisms by which NLRX1 shapes astrocyte behavior, this work will ultimately contribute to the development of new treatments that slow or prevent Alzheimer’s disease progression and preserve quality of life for the millions of patients and families affected by this devastating disease.