Moses Chao

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Moses V. Chao (born May 16, 1952) is a neuroscientist and university professor at NYU Langone Health Medical Center. He studies the mechanisms of neuronal growth factor and teaches courses in cell biology, neuroscience, and physiology. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was President of the Society for Neuroscience in 2012.

Contents

Early life and education

In 1972, Chao earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry at Pomona College in Claremont, California. [1] In 1980, he earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry at University of California, Los Angeles. [2] He researched chromatin structure at the Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA. After earning his doctorate, Chao worked as a research fellow at Columbia University from 1980 to 1983, where he carried out his postdoctoral research with molecular biologist Richard Axel. [2]

Research

Human nerve growth factor, which is Chao's research focus at NYU. 1sg1.png
Human nerve growth factor, which is Chao's research focus at NYU.

Since 2019, Chao has been a lead investigator at New York University investigating the mechanisms behind specificity of neuronal growth factor (NGF), with specific emphasis on neuronal growth, differentiation, and signaling. A landmark discovery of Chao's lab was the identification of genes responsible for encoding the receptors of NGF. The lab is currently investigating the mechanisms of trophic factors used to alter plasticity in synapses. A significant area of focus for Chao and his research associates are neurotrophins. [1] [3] [4] Neutrophins act in the nervous system to assist cells in differentiation, as well as survival mechanisms and higher-order functions, including addiction, pain, neurodegenerative conditions, anxiety, and depression. [3] Chao has also researched the impact of exercise on the brain. [5] [6] [7]

Faculty positions

As of 2019, Chao has worked as a professor in the departments of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology, and Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health Medical Center. In addition, he is also the coordinator of the Molecular Biology Program. [1] In the past, he has held a professorship in Cell Biology at the Weill Cornell Medical College. Additionally, he has held positions including Secretary, Chair of the Committee on Committees, Senior Editor of the Journal of Neuroscience, Chair of the Program Committee, and President of Society for Neuroscience in 2012. [4] Chao has also been a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Neuroscience (Senior Editor, 11 years), [3] Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience as well as the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Finally, he has served as a board member at Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundations, Simons Foundation, Vollum Institute, and St Jude's Cancer Center. [8]

Awards and honors

Chao was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2008. Chao was also a recipient of a Zenith Award from the Alzheimer's Association in 1991 – 1994, Jacob Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from 1996 – 2003, the Julius Axelrod Award from the Society for Neuroscience in 2017, [9] and a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1994. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neuroscience</span> Scientific study of the nervous system

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, its functions and disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developmental biology, cytology, psychology, physics, computer science, chemistry, medicine, statistics, and mathematical modeling to understand the fundamental and emergent properties of neurons, glia and neural circuits. The understanding of the biological basis of learning, memory, behavior, perception, and consciousness has been described by Eric Kandel as the "epic challenge" of the biological sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brain-derived neurotrophic factor</span> Protein found in humans

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or abrineurin, is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the BDNF gene. BDNF is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, which are related to the canonical nerve growth factor (NGF), a family which also includes NT-3 and NT-4/NT-5. Neurotrophic factors are found in the brain and the periphery. BDNF was first isolated from a pig brain in 1982 by Yves-Alain Barde and Hans Thoenen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neurotrophin</span>

Neurotrophins are a family of proteins that induce the survival, development, and function of neurons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropomyosin receptor kinase B</span> Protein and coding gene in humans

Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), also known as tyrosine receptor kinase B, or BDNF/NT-3 growth factors receptor or neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NTRK2 gene. TrkB is a receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The standard pronunciation for this protein is "track bee".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor</span> Human protein-coding gene

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) was first identified in 1973 as the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR) before discovery that p75NTR bound other neurotrophins equally well as nerve growth factor. p75NTR is a neurotrophic factor receptor. Neurotrophic factor receptors bind Neurotrophins including Nerve growth factor, Neurotrophin-3, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and Neurotrophin-4. All neurotrophins bind to p75NTR. This also includes the immature pro-neurotrophin forms. Neurotrophic factor receptors, including p75NTR, are responsible for ensuring a proper density to target ratio of developing neurons, refining broader maps in development into precise connections. p75NTR is involved in pathways that promote neuronal survival and neuronal death.

Neurotrophic factors (NTFs) are a family of biomolecules – nearly all of which are peptides or small proteins – that support the growth, survival, and differentiation of both developing and mature neurons. Most NTFs exert their trophic effects on neurons by signaling through tyrosine kinases, usually a receptor tyrosine kinase. In the mature nervous system, they promote neuronal survival, induce synaptic plasticity, and modulate the formation of long-term memories. Neurotrophic factors also promote the initial growth and development of neurons in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system, and they are capable of regrowing damaged neurons in test tubes and animal models. Some neurotrophic factors are also released by the target tissue in order to guide the growth of developing axons. Most neurotrophic factors belong to one of three families: (1) neurotrophins, (2) glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor family ligands (GFLs), and (3) neuropoietic cytokines. Each family has its own distinct cell signaling mechanisms, although the cellular responses elicited often do overlap.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Chao Lab". med.nyu.edu. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  2. 1 2 "Team". Think Interfaces. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  3. 1 2 3 "SFARI | Moses Chao". SFARI. 2017-07-21. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  4. 1 2 "Moses V Chao | Psychiatry 2016 | Conferenceseries Ltd". psychiatry.global-summit.com. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  5. "The New York Times: How Exercise Acts as 'Miracle-Gro' for the Brain". NYU Langone News. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  6. "How exercise may help the brain grow stronger". New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  7. Sleiman, Sama F; Henry, Jeffrey; Al-Haddad, Rami; El Hayek, Lauretta; Abou Haidar, Edwina; Stringer, Thomas; Ulja, Devyani; Karuppagounder, Saravanan S; Holson, Edward B; Ratan, Rajiv R; Ninan, Ipe (2016-06-02). Elmquist, Joel K (ed.). "Exercise promotes the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) through the action of the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate". eLife. 5: e15092. doi: 10.7554/eLife.15092 . ISSN   2050-084X. PMC   4915811 . PMID   27253067.
  8. "Moses V. Chao, PhD, Named President-Elect of the Society for Neuroscience". www.newswise.com. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  9. "Former SfN President Moses V. Chao Receives Julius Axelrod Prize". Society for Neuroscience. Retrieved 3 May 2020.