Yu Kang “Tiger” Xu
To coordinate billions of electrical impulses that must arrive with millisecond precision, the brain employs myelin — fatty insulation that modulates the speed of signal transmission. Loss of myelin, and associated temporal control, is thus commonly found in neurodegenerative diseases, leading to impaired learning, disrupted motor control and seizures. Myelin is particularly interesting as it is produced throughout life, unlike most other substrates in the brain, meaning that the entire myelin landscape can shift to support learning and promote recovery from injury. In the Bergles laboratory, I sought to map this incredibly diverse and dynamic myelin landscape at the brain-wide level, using whole-brain imaging and deep-learning tools. Altogether, these interrogations revealed unique differences in vulnerability and regenerative potential across the brain, while also highlighting enhanced plasticity in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in advanced age. These insights are critical to understanding the dynamics of myelin patterning throughout life, while also providing a robust platform to assess the mechanisms that maintain and disrupt the myelin landscape in health and disease.
Questions & Answers
Why did you choose Johns Hopkins for your work?
I chose Johns Hopkins for the people. From the first interview day to the final decision, I could see the incredibly kind, collaborative environment fostered by the students and faculty of the neuroscience department, and I was quite certain that I wanted to be a part of this wonderful community.
What does receiving this award mean to you personally and professionally? Do you have any connection with the particular award you received?
Receiving this award is both an honor and a reminder of the incredible support that Johns Hopkins has provided me over the last six years. I would not be the scientist I am today without the amazing mentors I have here, both
personally and professionally, and I hope to follow in the footsteps of prior award recipients.
What contributed to your project’s success?
This project was a massive interdisciplinary undertaking, requiring expertise in neurobiology, optics and computer science. Consequently, a huge reason for this project’s success was the collaborations I was able to establish through interdisciplinary networks at Johns Hopkins, such as the Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute. This initiative, which bridges the biomedical engineering and neuroscience departments, enabled me to find co-mentors from both fields (Dr. Bergles and Dr. Sulam) and helped me grow as both a computer scientist and a biologist. Moreover, the guidance and support I received from my co-mentors and lab members has been critical to ensuring my project’s success. From data analysis to surgical procedures to optimizing complicated optical instruments, my labmates have always been there to lend a hand,
and I am forever grateful to have had a chance to work with these incredible individuals.
What thoughts do you have about Young Investigators’ Day itself, as a celebration of the roles students and fellows play in research at Johns Hopkins?
Academic research is a lifelong pursuit that can often feel incredibly lonely and insurmountable without a supportive community of like-minded peers. I think initiatives like Young Investigators’ Day are an important opportunity for students and fellows to take a step back and celebrate the journey while also having the chance to network and find inspiring new ideas for the next step along the academic path.
What has been your best/most memorable experience while at Johns Hopkins?
My favorite moment is the first time I ever completed a craniotomy and was able to look under a microscope to watch as cells moved about in a living brain in real time. I was awestruck by the incredible complexity of this machinery that gives rise to consciousness, emotions and memories, and I
remember thinking to myself just how lucky I was to have the opportunity to study something so beautiful.
What are your plans for the next year or so? Graduating, looking for faculty positions, etc.?
I will be graduating in June 2025, and I am in the process of applying to postdoctoral positions in Boston. My hope is to stay in academia.
Tell me something interesting about yourself that makes you unique. Do you have any special hobbies, interests or life experiences?
I love the performing arts! Many years ago, I founded a theater company with a good friend of mine, Two Gents of New West, which aimed to support aspiring artists of all kinds. We produced several plays and community events, and even helped release a jazz album. I hope one day to return to the arts in some way, but in the meantime, I am always on the lookout for exciting new performances.