Chu Laboratory
Overview
Neural Circuits and Neurodegeneration
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder marked by loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a neuromodulator that regulates voluntary movement and many other biological processes. As gradual depletion of dopamine in the brain and progressive degeneration of these critical cells occurs, the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease start to appear, including akinesia, bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor.
The Chu Lab integrates molecular, cellular and systems neuroscience to identify mechanisms that contribute to progressive degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, and abnormal circuit activity that underlies the devastating motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The long-term goal of the Chu Lab is to develop precision strategies to target specific types of neurons or neural circuits for disease prevention and treatment.
Join the Chu Team!
The Chu Lab is seeking outstanding postdoctoral fellow candidates. Please send inquiries to Dr. Chu for information on potential opportunities.
Recent News & Press
Learn More
Emory University, Van Andel Institute scientists receive $6 million grant to accelerate Parkinson’s disease research
Meet the scientist behind the science: Dr. Hong-yuan Chu
Seven facts about the human brain
Dr. Hong-yuan Chu has been awarded a five-year, $2.38 million R01 grant (no. R01NS121371) from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health. The funding will support research into how the brain’s circuitry is affected by Parkinson’s disease.*
*This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Chetan Nagaraja PhD, joins us as a postdoctoral fellow. Welcome, Chetan!
Dec. 1, 2020Dr. Hong-yuan Chu is awarded a prestigious NARSAD grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
Sep. 1, 2020Dr. Hong-yuan Chu co-chaired the 2020 Grand Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease sympsosium
Sep. 1, 2020Research Technician Samuel Daniels joined the lab
Mar. 1, 2020Dr. Liqiang Chen joined the lab as a postdoctoral fellow
Sep. 1, 2019Our Impact
We’re raising thousands to save millions.
We’re turning hope into action for the millions of people around the world affected by diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s. Find out how you can help us make a difference.
- 118 papers published in 2022
- 48 papers in high-impact journals in 2022
- 42 clinical trials launched
Hong-yuan Chu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Areas of Expertise
Synaptic physiology, cellular physiology, plasticity, neuromodulation, neural circuitry, electrophysiology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, Parkinson’s disease
Biography
Hong-Yuan Chu received his Ph.D. in pharmacology from Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica. He then completed postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health and Northwestern University. In 2019, he joined Van Andel Institute’s Department of Neurodegenerative Science as an assistant professor. Dr. Chu serves as a reviewer for eLife, Journal Parkinson’s Disease, the Frontiers journals, and others. He is the recipients of several awards, including the prestigious 2020 BBRF Young Investigator award.
Society memberships
International Basal Ganglia Society
American Society for Neuroscience
Selected publications
Chen L, Nagaraja C, Daniels S, Fisk ZA, Dvorak R, Meyerdirk L, Steiner JA, Escobar Galvis ML, Henderson MX, Rousseaux MWC, Brundin P, Chu HY. 2022. Synaptic location is a determinant of the detrimental effects of α-synuclein pathology to glutamatergic transmission in the basolateral amygdala. eLife 11:e78055.
Chen L, Daniels S, Kim Y, Chu HY. 2021. Cell type-specific decrease of the intrinsic excitability of motor cortical pyramidal neurons in Parkinsonism. J Neurosci 41(25):5553–5565.
Chu HY. 2020. Synaptic and cellular plasticity in Parkinson’s disease. Acta Pharmacol Sin 41(4):447–452.
McIver EL, Atherton JF, Chu HY, Cosgrove KE, Kondapalli J, Wokosin D, Surmeier DJ, Bevan MD. 2019. Maladaptive downregulation of autonomous subthalamic nucleus activity following loss of midbrain dopamine neurons. Cell Rep 28(4): 992–1002.e4.
Chu HY, McIver EL, Kovaleski RF, Atherton JF, Bevan MD. 2017. Loss of hyperdirect pathway cortico-subthalamic inputs following degeneration of midbrain dopamine neurons. Neuron 95(6):1306–1318.
*Comment in Neuron
Chu HY, Atherton JF, Wokosin D, Surmeier DJ, Bevan MD. 2015. Heterosynaptic regulation of external globus pallidus inputs to the subthalamic nucleus by motor cortex. Neuron 85(2):364–376.
*Comment in Neuron
Chu HY, Li J, Ito W, Li J, Morozov A. 2012. Target-specific suppression of GABA release from parvalbumin-interneurons in basolateral amygdala by dopamine. J Neurosci 32(42):14815–14820.
*Comment in F1000Prime.com/717963921#eval793465677
Zhou S, Chu HY, Jin GZ, Cui JM, Zhen X. 2014. Effects of SKF83959 on the excitability of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons: a modeling study. Acta Pharmacol Sin 35(6):738–751.
Gao M*, Chu HY*, Jin GZ, Zhang ZJ, Wu J, Zhen X. 2011. l-Stepholidine-induced excitation of dopamine neurons in rat ventral tegmental area is associated with its 5-HT1A receptor partial agonistic activity. Synapse 65(5):379–387.
*Co-first authors
Chu HY, Wu Q, Zhou S, Cao X, Zhang A, Jin GZ, Hu GY, Zhen X. 2011. SKF83959 suppresses excitatory synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus via a dopamine receptor-independent mechanism. J Neurosci Res 89(8):1259–1266.
Chu HY, Gu Q, Jin GZ, Hu GY, Zhen X. 2010. Electrophysiological effects of SKF83959 on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons: Potential mechanisms for the drug’s neuroprotective effects. PLoS One.
Chu HY, Yang Z, Zhao B, Jin GZ, Hu GY, Zhen X. 2010. Activation of phosphatidylinositol-linked D1-like receptors increases spontaneous glutamate release in rat somatosensory cortical neurons in vitro. Brain Res 1343:20–27.
Chu HY, Zhen X. 2010. Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in the regulation of midbrain dopamine systems. Acta Pharmacol Sin 31(9):1036–1043.
Daniil Berezhnoi, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Liqiang Chen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Chu Laboratory
Parkinson’s disease, basal ganglion, brain circuitry and dopamine depletion
Suraj Cherian, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Samuel Daniels
Ph.D. Candidate, VAI Graduate School
Jamie Durst, B.S.
Senior Administrative Assistant I, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Gabriel Simms
Assistant Research Technician, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
