A Short Biography:
Qiulan Ma, M.D., Ph.D. is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at David Geffen School of Medicine, the University of California, Los Angeles. She has been a Faculty member at UCLA since 2006 and Principal Investigator at Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center since 2007.
Dr. Ma did postdoctoral research fellow in molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry with a focus on understanding the physiological and pathological function of alpha-synuclein in neurodegenerative diseases in Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan. She earned M.D. from Harbin Medical University and Ph.D. in human molecular genetics and epidemiology in neurodegenerative diseases with a focus in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from the Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Science, China. As a neurologist, she also earned an M.Sc. degree in ischemic stroke from Harbin Medical University and completed a postdoctoral research fellow in human molecular genetics and epidemiology in neurodegenerative diseases at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University in Beijing, the nation’s premier center for the research and treatment of neurological disorders and neurosurgical diseases. Before moving to UCLA, she was the Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University.
As a Neurologist-Scientist, Dr. Ma’s research interests have primarily focused on understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of AD, identifying non-invasive brain-derived blood biomarkers, and developing mechanism-driven interventions for treating AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Her research work has contributed to understanding the mechanisms of abnormal protein aggregates (misfolded proteins), especially soluble amyloid-beta42 oligomer-induced tau hyperphosphorylation, insulin resistance, insulin resistance leading to tau pathology via JNK signaling, and loss of synaptic proteins. Her work has also contributed to the understanding neuronal pentraxin1 as a potential synapse-derived plasma biomarker relevant to AD progression and response to treatment in AD models, and the physiological and pathogenic role of alpha-Synuclein in neurodegenerative diseases. Her recent research activities are focusing on understating the anti-inflammatory mechanism of omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (LA), in which LA’s metabolite DPAn-6 shows robust treatment effects on AD model E4FAD mice. The major goal of her research is to develop effective therapies for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Ma has received awards for medical research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/Science Technology Agency of Japan, Alzheimer’s Association, State of California Department of Public Health AD Program, and NIH/NIA R21 award.
Publications:
A selected list of publications:
Ma Qiu-Lan, Zhu Cansheng, Morselli Marco, Su Trent, Pelligrini Matteo, Lu Zhengqi, Jones Mychica, Denver Paul, Castro Daniel, Gu Xuelin, Relampagos Frances, Caoili Kaitlin, Teter Bruce, Frautschy Sally A, Cole Gregory M
The Novel Omega-6 Fatty Acid Docosapentaenoic Acid Positively
Modulates Brain Innate Immune Response for Resolving Neuroinflammation
at Early and Late Stages of Humanized APOE-Based Alzheimer's Disease
Models
Frontiers in immunology,
2020; 11:
558036.
Ma Qiu-Lan, Teng Edmond, Zuo Xiaohong, Jones Mychica, Teter Bruce, Zhao Evan Y, Zhu Cansheng, Bilousova Tina, Gylys Karen H, Apostolova Liana G, LaDu Mary Jo, Hossain Mir Ahamed, Frautschy Sally A, Cole Gregory M
Neuronal pentraxin 1: A synaptic-derived plasma biomarker in
Alzheimer's disease
Neurobiology of disease,
2018; 114:
120-128.
Ma Qiu-Lan, Zuo Xiaohong, Yang Fusheng, Ubeda Oliver J, Gant Dana J, Alaverdyan Mher, Kiosea Nicolae C, Nazari Sean, Chen Ping Ping, Nothias Fatiha, Chan Piu, Teng Edmond, Frautschy Sally A, Cole Greg M
Loss of MAP function leads to hippocampal synapse loss and deficits in
the Morris Water Maze with aging
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2014; 34(21):
7124-36.
Ma Qiu-Lan, Zuo Xiaohong, Yang Fusheng, Ubeda Oliver J, Gant Dana J, Alaverdyan Mher, Teng Edmond, Hu Shuxin, Chen Ping-Ping, Maiti Panchanan, Teter Bruce, Cole Greg M, Frautschy Sally A
Curcumin suppresses soluble tau dimers and corrects molecular
chaperone, synaptic, and behavioral deficits in aged human tau
transgenic mice
The Journal of biological chemistry,
2013; 288(6):
4056-65.
Ma Qiu-Lan, Yang Fusheng, Rosario Emily R, Ubeda Oliver J, Beech Walter, Gant Dana J, Chen Ping Ping, Hudspeth Beverly, Chen Cory, Zhao Yongle, Vinters Harry V, Frautschy Sally A, Cole Greg M
Beta-amyloid oligomers induce phosphorylation of tau and inactivation
of insulin receptor substrate via c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling:
suppression by omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2009; 29(28):
9078-89.
Ma Qiu-Lan, Galasko Douglas R, Ringman John M, Vinters Harry V, Edland Steven D, Pomakian Justine, Ubeda Oliver J, Rosario Emily R, Teter Bruce, Frautschy Sally A, Cole Greg M
Reduction of SorLA/LR11, a sorting protein limiting beta-amyloid
production, in Alzheimer disease cerebrospinal fluid
Archives of neurology,
2009; 66(4):
448-57.
Ma Qiu-Lan, Teter Bruce, Ubeda Oliver J, Morihara Takashi, Dhoot Dilsher, Nyby Michael D, Tuck Michael L, Frautschy Sally A, Cole Greg M
Omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid increases SorLA/LR11, a
sorting protein with reduced expression in sporadic Alzheimer's
disease (AD): relevance to AD prevention
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
2007; 27(52):
14299-307.
Ma Qiu-Lan, Lim Giselle P, Harris-White Marni E, Yang Fusheng, Ambegaokar Surendra S, Ubeda Oliver J, Glabe Charles G, Teter Bruce, Frautschy Sally A, Cole Greg M
Antibodies against beta-amyloid reduce Abeta oligomers, glycogen
synthase kinase-3beta activation and tau phosphorylation in vivo and
in vitro
Journal of neuroscience research,
2006; 83(3):
374-84.
Zhao Lixia, Ma Qiu-Lan, Calon Frédéric, Harris-White Marni E, Yang Fusheng, Lim Giselle P, Morihara Takashi, Ubeda Oliver J, Ambegaokar Surendra, Hansen James E, Weisbart Richard H, Teter Bruce, Frautschy Sally A, Cole Greg M
Role of p21-activated kinase pathway defects in the cognitive deficits
of Alzheimer disease
Nature neuroscience,
2006; 9(2):
234-42.
Alim Muhammad Abdul, Ma Qiu-Lan, Takeda Kazuya, Aizawa Takako, Matsubara Mamoru, Nakamura Minako, Asada Akiko, Saito Taro, Kaji Hiroyuki, Yoshii Mitsunobu, Hisanaga Shinichi, Uéda Kenji
Demonstration of a role for alpha-synuclein as a functional
microtubule-associated protein
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD,
2004; 6(4):
435-42; discussion 443-9.