TeresaThai

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia among the elderly. Current treatments, including various clinical drug trials and deep brain stimulation, primarily aim to enhance the function of surviving neurons. However, the role of glial cells and their functional connectivity is crucial for addressing neurodegeneration. My research focuses on developing non-invasive therapies for Alzheimer’s disease by modulating glial cell networks.

I graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a B.S. in Bioengineering. There, I collaborated on several projects under the advisement of Dr. Joseph Pancrazio focused on mitigating the inflammatory response and improving the integration of microelectrode arrays into the brain. Microelectrodes allow for long-term recording of neural activity but do not provide insights to other cell types. From this, I decided to pursue a Ph. D in Bioengineering in the neural track at the University of Pittsburgh to explore the contributions of non-neuronal networks and their influence in neurodegenerative patterns and AD pathology. Further, I hope to expand our scientific understanding as well as current treatments for AD.