Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · PhysiologyVascular Cognitive Health Laboratory
Pingnian He · University Park, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Pingnian He's lab focuses on understanding how atherosclerosis, a common vascular disease, leads to cognitive impairments and dementia. With an aging population increasing the prevalence of these conditions, the lab investigates the specific mechanisms linking blood vessel health to brain function. By conducting experiments in animal models and human samples, the lab aims to uncover potential therapeutic targets and preventive strategies for cognitive decline.
cognitive impairmentatherosclerosisvascular contributions to cognitive impairmentred blood cell ATPdementianeuroinflammationhypercholesterolemiacerebrovascularmouse modelshuman samples
Research Aims
3AIM 01Identify how atherosclerosis leads to brain hypoperfusion and cognitive impairment.
AIM 02Investigate the role of RBC-released ATP in cerebrovascular pathology and cognitive deficits.
AIM 03Explore the interaction of hypercholesterolemia and ATP release in causing endothelial barrier dysfunction.
Skills the Lab Values
animal modelsin vitro assaysfluorescence microscopybehavioral testingcell culturesignal transduction analysisbiochemical assaysdata analysis in Rcomputational modelingWestern blot
Output against the department
Publications131bottom 42% of dept.165th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.7kbottom 19% of dept.233rd of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.