Eric Huang, MD, PhD
Professor
Pathology
School of Medicine

415-476-8525

I am a physician-scientist with the unique combination of skills in cellular and molecular neurobiology and diagnostic neuropathology. There are two general areas of research in my laboratory, both supported by extramural funding. The first area focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern neural circuit development and function.

Show full bio (130 words) Hide full bio

Another major area of research in my lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition to our seminal work to investigate disease mechanisms in model organisms, we have made every effort to directly connect our research with human diseases. To this end, I have spearheaded the efforts to establish the UC Pediatric Neuropathology Consortium. The success of this endeavor is underscored by our extensive collaborations with colleagues within and outside UCSF, which lead to many important discoveries. Most importantly, these studies revealed previously unrecognized role of neural circuit dysfunctions in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, and re-define our approaches toward investigating the molecular and cellular pathways in these devastating diseases.

Awards

Show all (15) Hide

  • President, American Association of Neuropathologist (AANP), 2022-2023
  • Organizer, Keystone Symposium on Neurodegenerative Diseases, 2021
  • Award of Distinction, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 2021
  • BMS Mentoring Award, UCSF BMS Graduate Program, 2019
  • The Stowell Lecture, University of California Davis, 2017
  • The DeArmond Lecture, American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP), 2016
  • Vice Chair (2012) & Chair (2014), Gordon Research Confernece on Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology, 2012-2014
  • Mid-career Investigator Award, NCRR/NIH, 2009-2014
  • Independent Scientist Award, NINDS/NIH, 2002-2007
  • Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), Dept of Veterans Affairs, 2000-2005
  • Advanced Career Development Award, Dept of Veterans Affairs, 1999-2002
  • Weil Award for the best paper in Experimental Neuropathology, American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP) Annual Meeting, 1998
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship for Physicians, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 1997-2000
  • Vincent du Vigneaud Award of Excellence, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1991
  • Frank Lappin Horsfall, Jr. Fellowship, Sloan-Kettering Institute, 1990-1991

Education & Training

Show all (5) Hide

  • Post-Doc Scholar HHMI (Mentor: Dr. Lou Reichardt) University of California, San Francisco 2000
  • Clinical Fellow Neuropathology University of California, San Francisco 1997
  • Residency Pathology University of California, San Francisco 1995
  • PhD Molecular Biology (Mentor: Dr. Peter Besmer) Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences 1993
  • MD National Taiwan University 1986

Interests

Show all (9) Hide

  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • Human brain development
  • glia-neuron interactions
  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • germinal matrix hemorrhage
  • frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)
  • animal models
  • neurodevelopmental disorders
  • autism

Websites

Show all (2) Hide

Grants and Projects

Show all (21) Hide

Publications (170)

Top publication keywords:
Neurodegenerative DiseasesMesencephalonCarrier ProteinsReceptor, trkBC9orf72 ProteinNeurogenesisFrontotemporal Lobar DegenerationRNA-Binding Protein FUSDopamineNeuronsFrontotemporal DementiaAmyotrophic Lateral SclerosisTDP-43 ProteinopathiesIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsDopaminergic Neurons

Show all (152 more) Hide