Dr. Cai’s laboratory conducts research studies focusing on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Using transgenic animal models, her research group investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying amyloid generation, with the goal of developing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Cai joined Mount Sinai in July 2010, where she continues to advance our understanding of the workings of the central nervous system and the processes involved in defining disease mechanisms. Prior to coming to Mount Sinai, Dr. Cai was trained by many prestigious basic research scientists. After graduated from Tongji Medical University in China, she obtained her PhD in Neuroscience in the laboratory of Dr. Marie Filbin at Hunter College of The City University of New York, where she studied the roles of cyclic AMP in blocking myelin-derived inhibitors of axonal regeneration in animal models of spinal cord injury. Subsequently, Dr. Cai completed postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University in New York where she was mentored by Nobel Laureate Dr. Paul Greengard in Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. At Rockefeller University, Dr. Cai conducted research on Alzheimer’s disease focusing on the regulation of APP processing and trafficking and the impact of these processes on neuronal function. Besides her extensive basic research training, Dr. Cai obtained further clinical expertise in neurology and expanded her exposure to translational research during residency training at Yale’s Department of Neurology. She collaborated and continues to work with other research scientists in its Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair at Yale to investigate the regulation of membrane lipid composition, metabolism and its effects on Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis and progression. Dr. Cai has been remarkably productive in terms of scientific publications and awards. She was first-author on many publications in high profile journals including Neuron, Journal of Neuroscience, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Journal of Biological Chemistry. She obtained significant research funding from the NIH, Alzheimer’s Association, and VA Medical System, among others. Her research goals are to pursue studies that ultimately impact the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Alzheimer's Disease