Biological & Innovative Researchers

James D. Lechleiter, PhD

Dr. Lechleiter’s laboratory is interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of protection during drug addition, ischemic stress, stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Most strategies to reduce, slow and repair the severity of brain injuries and diseases have focused almost exclusively on neurons. We have focused our research on the potential of astrocytes as a novel theurapeutic avenue for brain treatment. Astrocytes are known to play a crucial role in supporting and protecting neuronal function and in modulating brain energy metabolism. A therapeutic strategy that increases energy production is inherently robust, since the number of potential neuroprotective processes that benefit are significantly higher than a single molecular target.

Liang Ma, PhD

Neurodevelopmental disorders, like schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease, are highly heritable diseases. The long-term goal of Liang Ma, PhD, lab is to bridge neurogenetics and neurobiology by determining risk genes/transcripts across a range of human brain diseases and investigate which and how genomic variations affect gene transcriptions and further contribute to diseases’ risk.

Dr. Ma’s research interest focuses on identifying causative genomic variations, genes, and splicing transcripts of human polygenic diseases using genome-wide association study (GWAS), whole-genome sequencing (WGS), RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq and DNA methylation. Using cutting-edge integrative omics approaches, he has identified a list of functional genetic variants and gene domains, like SNX19, CYP2D6, that potentially increase the risk of schizophrenia. Another research interest of his lab is performing genome editing on neural stem cells of their identified genomic targets, followed by genome editing of human iPS cell lines, and differentiated them to functional neurons and glia for mechanism investigation. The results will help provide accurate molecular targets to guide the future development of precise and effective therapeutics.

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Qitao Ran, PhD

Research surrounds the exploration of mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles with multiple functions essential for neural activities and the dysfunction of which is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, especially for sporadic and late-onset cases. Research focuses to illustrate the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in relation to Alzheimer’s disease and aging, with a goal of identifying novel targets for prevention and treatment of the disease.

Agustin Ruiz, MD, PhD

Agustin Ruiz, MD, PhD, professor and director of the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases’ Biological Core laboratory and the Keith M. and Pat V. Orme Endowed Chair in Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio.

Dr. Ruiz is also the non-executive research director of ACE Alzheimer Center in Barcelona, Spain, and the principal investigator of the Networked Biomedical Research Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Ministry of Health of Spain—CIBERNED/ISCIII).
He earned an MD and PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University of Seville.
Dr. Ruiz has held significant roles, including co-founding several biotech companies and has received numerous awards for his contributions to biotechnology and Alzheimer’s research. His publication record includes 254 articles and 180 preprints/abstracts.
He has secured funding for more than 40 competitive research projects and contributed to the application of genomic technologies in medicine and the discovery of genetic factors in dementia and other human conditions.