The Zhu Lab | Saint Louis University

Research

The complex cognitive functions of the human brain rely not only on the survival of neurons but also on the precise, synchronized transmission of information across the vast white matter networks that connect them. While Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is traditionally defined by plaques and tangles, white matter degeneration has been recently recognized as an early and robust predictor of cognitive decline that often precedes gray matter atrophy. We will investigate a critical but understudied aspect of this pathology: How do microglia maintain white matter integrity under the metabolic stress of neurodegeneration?

People

Beika Zhu, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Dr.Zhu's career in neuroscience began at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where she completed her Ph.D. in Dr. Karl Herrup's lab in 2019. During her subsequent postdoctoral training in Dr. Xianhua Piao's lab at UCSF, she became fascinated by neuroimmunology, specifically microglial responses and diverse cellular states in Alzheimer's disease pathology. Dr.Zhu joined the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Saint Louis University as an Assistant Professor in January 2026 to establish a research program focused on the microglial regulation of myelin integrity in Alzheimer's disease.

Nate Bowman

Undergraduate Researcher

Nate is a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and an undergraduate research assistant in the lab. His interests focus on how early degeneration of neural connections disrupts communication in the brain and contributes to cognitive decline. Outside the lab, Nate enjoys watching Formula 1.

Emily Chau

Undergraduate Researcher

Emily Chau is currently a freshman at Saint Louis University, studying neuroscience. She’s especially interested in neurological disorders and biological processes. Emily grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri. Outside of academics, she enjoys drawing and hanging out with friends.

Selected Publications

Zhu B.*, Li T.*, Rodrigues B.V.*, Piller M.V., Call C.L., Mogha A., Belloso-Iguerategui A., Chiou B., Schmidt R., Wangzhou A., Thurber A., Dee M., Larson C., Monk K., Piao X. "Pre-myelinating oligodendrocyte ADGRG1 is required for axon ensheathment and CNS myelin formation" bioRxiv, 2026. (* contributed equally to this study)
doi:10.64898/2026.01.26.701898
Zhu B., Wangzhou A., Yu D., Li T., Schmidt R., De Florencio S., Chao L., Thurber A., Zhou M., Msheik Z., Perez Y., Grinberg L., Spina S., Ransohoff R., Kriegstein A., Seeley W., Nowakowski T., Piao X. "G protein-coupled receptor ADGRG1 drives a protective microglial state in Alzheimer's disease through MYC activation" Neuron, 2025.
doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2025.06.020
Featured by: UCSF News Press | Science Daily Highlighted in Barclay et Li, Neuron: doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2025.09.003
Zhu B., Thurber A., Piao X. "Protocol for in vitro phagocytosis assay for primary mouse microglia and human embryonic stem cell-derived microglia" STAR Protocols, 2025.
doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2025.104219
Zhu B.*, Luo R.*, Jin P.*, Li T., Oak H., Monk K., Lak P., Shoichet B., Tall G., Piao X. "GAIN domain-mediated cleavage is required for activation of GPR56 by its natural ligands and a small-molecule agonist" Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294: 19246-19254, 2019. (* contributed equally to this study)
doi:10.1074/jbc.RA119.008234
Yu D., Jain S., Wangzhou A., De Florencio S., Zhu B., Kim J., Choi J., Paredes M., Nowakowski T., Huang E., Piao X. "Microglia regulate GABAergic neurogenesis in prenatal human brain through IGF1" Nature, 2025.
doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09362-8
Li T., Schmidt R., Luo R., D'Alessandro N., Kishore P., Zhu B., Yu D., Piao X. "GPR56 S4 variant is required for microglia-mediated synaptic pruning" Glia, 71: 560-570, 2023.
doi:10.1002/glia.24293
Yu D., Li T., Delpech J., Zhu B., Kishore P., Koshi T., Luo R., Pratt K., Popova G., Nowakowski T., Villeda S., Piao X. "Microglial GPR56 is the molecular target of maternal immune activation-induced parvalbumin-positive interneuron deficits" Science Advances, 8: eabm2545, 2022.
doi:10.1126/sciadv.abm2545
Zhu B., Li Z., Qian P., Herrup K. "Marine bacterial extracts as a new rich source of drugs against Alzheimer’s disease" Journal of Neurochemistry, 152: 493-508, 2019.
doi:10.1111/jnc.14847

For a full list of publications, please visit here.

News

March 2026: Dr. Zhu is now officially affiliated with the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders! We are excited to join this incredible community of researchers and advance our shared understanding of neurological diseases.
January 2026: Dr. Zhu presented at the American Society for Chinese Neuroscientists (ASCN) Annual Symposium 2026, delivering a talk entitled "The ADGRG1-MYC Signaling Axis Drives Protective Microglial Function in Alzheimer's Disease" in a session chaired by Dr. Hui Zheng. It was a wonderful opportunity to share our work and connect with the broader neuroscience community.
January 2026: The Zhu Lab officially opens its doors at Saint Louis University! We are actively setting up our space and recruiting passionate scientists to join the team.

Join Us

Postdoctoral Fellows

We are seeking creative, motivated individuals with a Ph.D. and/or M.D. and a strong background in one or more of the following areas: molecular or cellular neuroscience, neuroimmunology, glial biology, computational biology/bioinformatics, or mouse models of neurodegeneration. Ideal candidates are team-oriented and collaborative, with a strong publication record and the ability to lead independent projects while contributing to an interdisciplinary research environment. To apply, please send your CV, a brief statement of research interests, and contact information for 2-3 references to .

Research Assistants

We welcome applications from detail-oriented, enthusiastic individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher in neuroscience, biology, bioengineering, or a related field. Prior experience in molecular biology, mouse handling, cell culture, tissue sectioning, or immunohistochemistry is preferred. We encourage applications from both recent graduates seeking research experience and individuals with substantial prior experience. To apply, please send your CV, a brief statement of research interests, and contact information for 2-3 references to .

Graduate Students

We welcome rotation students from Saint Louis University Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. program. If you are interested in exploring how microglia regulate myelin integrity in neurodegenerative diseases, please email with your CV and a brief statement of research interests.

Undergraduate and Medical Students

We are always looking for passionate undergraduate and medical students to join our research efforts. Please email if you are interested in gaining hands-on laboratory experience.