Chunni Zhu, PhD

I have the expertise, leadership, training, and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the proposed research project for the Air Force grant. I have a broad background in neuroscience, with specific training and expertise in neurodegenerative animal model study, pre-clinical trial management, histology and pathology in rodents and secondary data analysis. I am currently the director for Brain Research Institute microscopic core facility at UCLA. My research involves pre-clinical drug trials in mouse models of Parkinson's(PD) and Huntington's (HD) diseases. I am the senior member of the laboratory and my expertise in neuropathology has enabled me to become a key member of research projects in the lab and to lead the neuropathological analyses in these projects. I am also in charge of in vivo drug administration and behavioral assessment for some of these studies. I am actively involved in teaching and mentoring students. I have trained a number of undergraduate and graduate students in histological techniques and supervised other staff research associates in their work involving in vivo mouse work, histology and pathology. I also train, advise and help postdoctoral researchers in their research involving histology and pathology. Additionally, these experiences have provided me with leadership skills that have been invaluable in assembling the unique team of UCLA investigators who will contribute to the research efforts described in the proposal entitled, 'Salivary Exosome (nsEV) Analysis to Elucidate Intercelluar Signaling Events that Precede Pilot Fatigue & Impaired Cognition,' that we have submitted to the Air Force Office for Scientific Research Human Performance & Biosystems Department.

I'm excited about having the opportunity to act as Project Coordinator in the context of this consortium research effort and am confident that I can excel in this role to provide the Air Force with excellent returns on its investment of resources in our team's cognitive fatigue biomarker discovery and validation studies. I appreciate the AFOSR's consideration of our request for these research resources and look forward to putting together our unique blend of capabilities to work in helping the Air Force further its standing as the planet's most technologically advanced airborne combat group.