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President, The Society for Neuroscience, 2011-2012

Dr. Moses Chao is currently a Professor at New York University’s School of Medine in the Molecular Neurobiology Program in the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine. Prior to this position, Dr. Chao received his BA from Pomona College in Claremont, CA and his PhD at UCLA in the department of Chemistry follwed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. He then joined the faculty at Cornell University where he quickly became a full Professor in the Dept of Cell Biology in Medicine. Dr. Chao most recently was the President of The Society for Neuroscience from 2011 to 2012.

The Chao laboratory has studied neurotrophins (a family of proteins that act like a kind of brain nutrient) since the early 1980’s and cloned the first neurotriphin receptor which later led him to identify a second receptor. These findings have helped scientists understand how neurotrophins carry out their actions and how alterations in these protein levels can contribute to a host of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Chao’s work over the last decade has been focused on how these proteins can be used therapeutically to benifit patients with a variety of diseases (Huntington’s, Parkinson’s Alzheimer’s, even depression).

Dr. Chao donates his time as a scientific advisor to several nonprofit organizations (Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Cancer Center, etc). As president of The Society for Neuroscience he worked with US Representatives to develop a national campaign for neuroscience research that focused on war veterans with brain and spinal cord injuries.

Lunch will be provided.
Hosted by: Dr. Edward Bilsky