Organizer: Anil Cashikar
Lipid metabolism in the brain has been identified as highly impactful for neuroinflammation. It is well known that apolipoprotein E (ApoE), the main lipid carrier protein in the brain, is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Dysfunction in lipid efflux and lipid storage pathways appear to be strongly associated with inflammatory activation of glia. Targeting specific aspects of the brain lipid metabolism may offer therapeutic opportunities. The new Lipid Metabolism Research Group gathers those who have made pioneering contributions in understanding the connection between lipid metabolism, immune activation and neurological/psychiatric disorders, and others who would like to know more about these contributions, better understand the role of lipid metabolism in health and disease, exchange ideas, methodology and reagents and explore opportunities for identification of existing resources and development of new resources.
2026 Schedule
2nd Friday of the month
2:30p – 3:30p
Location: Zoom conference
For inquiries or to be added to the Lipid Metabolism Outlook Zoom distribution list contact the Hope Center.
- January 9: Wenjie Luo (Cornell University) “How Microglial Lipid Reprograms inflammation and Shapes Tau Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease”
- February 13: Julie Jacquemyn (University of Alberta) “Glucosylceramide-induced ectosomes propagate pathogenic α-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease”
- March 13: Kyle Oberkrom (Saint Louis University) “Salvemini lab Gpr183 research”
- April 10: Clair Crewe (WashU Cell Biology & Physiology)
- May 8: Danira Toral-Rios (Cashikar lab, WashU Psychiatry)
For previous years’ presentations, check out the archives link below.
All meetings are listed on the ONR Calendar of the Office of Neuroscience Research.
- August 8, 2025: Praveen Bathini (Harvard University) “Anti-Amyloid Immunotherapy for AD: A Potential Link between ARIA and Complement cascade”
- September 12, 2025: Shreedarshanee Devi Shamulailatpam (Gallardo lab, WashU Neurology) “Astrocytic Glutamine Metabolism Promotes Reactivity and Aβ Pathology”
- October 10, 2025: Guoyan Zhao (WashU Genetics and WashU Neurology) “Convergent Microglial Molecular Mechanisms Driving Neurodegeneration Across Diseases and Species Revealed by Single-Cell Genomics”
- November 14, 2025: Fei Yin (University of Arizona) “Astrocytic Lipid Catabolism in Alzheimer’s: Mechanistic Convergence and Therapeutic Potential”
- December 12, 2025: Monara Angelim (Saint Louis University) “Targeting the glycolytic enzyme-PFKFB3 downstream of inflammarafts in spinal microglia as potential treatment for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain”
Anil Cashikar (WashU Psychiatry)
Rafael Cazuza (Saint Louis University)
Jonathan Cooper (WashU Pediatrics)
Carlos Cruchaga (WashU Psychiatry)
Albert (Gus) Davis (WashU Neurology)
Abhinav Diwan (WashU Medicine)
Alex Evers (WashU Anesthesiology)
David Ford (Saint Louis University)
Song Hu (WashU Biomedical Engineering)
Laura Ibanez (WashU Psychiatry)
Joseph Ippolito (WashU Radiology)
Celeste Karch (WashU Psychiatry)
David Kast (WashU Cell Biology & Physiology)
Erik Musiek (WashU Neurology)
Grace Niziolek (WashU Surgery)
Jennifer Philips (WashU Medicine)
Gwendalyn Randolph (WashU Pathology & Immunology)
Daniela Salvemini (Saint Louis University)
Clay Semenkovich (WashU Medicine)
Ikbal Sencan-Egilmez (WashU Radiology)
Ananth Vellimana (WashU Neurosurgery)