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.

2025 Schedule

2nd Friday of the month
2:30p – 3:30p
Zoom conference

For inquiries or to be added to the Lipid Metabolism Outlook Zoom distribution list contact the Hope Center.

  • CANCELLED – July 11: Thomas Mahan (Yoo lab, WashU Developmental Biology) – “Neuronal APOE in late-onset Alzheimer disease”
  • August 8: Praveen Bathini (Harvard University)
  • September 12: Shreedarshanee Devi Shamulailatpam (Gallardo lab, WashU Neurology)
  • October 10: Wenjie Luo (Cornell University)
  • November 14: Fei Yin (University of Arizona)
  • December 12: Juliana Maria Navia Pelaez (Saint Louis University)

For previous years’ presentations, check out the archives link below.

All meetings are listed on the ONR Calendar of the Office of Neuroscience Research.

2025 Spring Schedule
  • January 10: Joshua Kulas (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute) “Targeting astrocyte cholesterol metabolism as a therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s Disease”
  • February 14: Michael Strickland (Randolph lab, WashU Pathology & Immunology) “Development of photoconvertible apolipoproteins to study HDL trafficking”
  • March 14: Ayoung Kim (Randolph lab, WashU Pathology & Immunology) “A gut-restricted LXR agonist attenuates liver fibrosis following small bowel resection”
  • May 9: Kathleen Schoch (WashU Neurology) “Defining the Disease-Modifying Effects of LDL-Lowering Medications in ALS Model Mice”
Lipid Metabolism Group: Affiliated faculty members

Anil Cashikar (WashU Psychiatry)
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)