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CURRICULUM VITAE

Lezi E PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy

OFFICE ADDRESS:
Basic Science Building
8701 Watertown Plank Rd
Milwaukee, WI 53226
Phone: 414-955-2248
Email: lezie@mcw.edu

EDUCATION:
2003 - 2008 M.B. (Bachelor of Medicine), Peking University, Beijing, China
2008 - 2013 Ph.D. (with honors), University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND FELLOWSHIP APPOINTMENTS:
02/2014 - 06/2014 Postdoctoral Fellow, Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
08/2014 - 07/2019 Postdoctoral Associate, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC
08/2019 - 07/2020 Research Scholar, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC

FACULTY APPOINTMENTS:
08/2020 - Present Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

AWARDS AND HONORS:
2007 Outstanding Medical Student Scholarship, Peking University, Beijing, China
2008 Outstanding Doctoral Student Scholarship, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
2013 Gregg Research Achievement Award for Alzheimer's Disease Research, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
2013 Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
2016 Duke Neurogenetics Travel Award, Duke University, Durham, NC
2018 Society for Neuroscience (SfN) 2018 Annual Meeting 'Hot Topic' abstract, Society for Neuroscience
2018 Duke MGM Distinguished Fellows Travel Award, Duke University, Durham, NC
2021 Imagine More Award, Neuroscience Research Center, MCW, Milwaukee, WI
2022 Outstanding Graduate School Educator, Medical College of Wisconsin
2023 IMAGE Travel Award, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

EDITORSHIPS/EDITORIAL BOARDS/JOURNAL REVIEWS:
Ad-Hoc Reviewer
2015 - Present Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
2017 - Present Scientific Reports
2017 - Present Neuroscience Letters
2017 - Present Frontiers in Neuroscience
2017 - Present BMC Neuroscience
2017 - Present Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
2017 - Present Frontiers in Neurology
2017 - Present Neural Regeneration Research
2018 - Present Journal of Visualized Experiments
2021 - Present Frontiers in Physiology

RESEARCH GRANTS/AWARDS/CONTRACTS/PROJECTS:
Prior
Peer Review
Title:
Exercise and Exercise Mimetic-Based Therapeutic Targeting of Brain Bioenergetic, Plasticity, and Inflammation Pathways
Source:
Mabel A. Woodyard Neurodegenerative Disease Grant
Role:
PI
PI:
Lezi E
Dates:
03/2012 - 03/2014
Direct Funds:
$48,000
  
Title:
An in vivo System for Genetic Dissection of Neuroprotective Properties of Exercise Against Aging
Source:
Imagine More Award, MCW
Role:
PI
PI:
Lezi E
Dates:
07/2021 - 12/2023
Direct Funds:
$25,000
  
Title:
The Role of Skin Collagen in the Maintenance of Neuron Structure in Aging
Source:
Research Affairs Committee, MCW
Role:
PI
PI:
Lezi E
Dates:
12/2021 - 12/2023
Direct Funds:
$35,000
  

INVITED LECTURES/WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS:
Regional
Molecular Basis that Couples Skin Aging and Neuronal Aging, Invited Neuroscience Seminar, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 12/02/2022
 
National
Non-Neural Mechanisms of Neuronal Aging: Active Participation of Skin Cells, Invited Seminar - Bohan Visiting Lectureship, University of Kansas Medical Center, 05/05/2023
 

PEER REVIEWED WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS:
Local
Lezi E, Exercise and Exercise Mimetic-Based Therapeutic Targeting of Brain Bioenergetic, Plasticity, and Inflammation Pathways, Translational Discovery Forum, Kansas City, KS, 09/20/2013
Lezi E, Epidermal Immune Regulation of Aging-associated Neurodegeneration of C. elegans, Duke Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Retreat, Wilmington, NC, 09/13/2015
Lezi E, Epidermal Immune Signaling Regulates Aging-associated Neurodegeneration Through A GPCR in C. elegans, Neuroimmunology and Glia Community, Chapel Hill, NC, 04/11/2016
 
National
Lezi E, An Epidermal Immune Signaling Network Regulates Antimicrobial Peptide-mediated Dendrite Degeneration in Aging, C. elegans Topic Meeting: Neuronal Development, Synaptic Function & Behavior, Madison, WI, 06/28/2018
Lezi E, An Epidermal Immune Signaling Network Regulates Antimicrobial Peptide-mediated Dendrite Degeneration in Aging, C. elegans Topic Meeting: Aging, Metabolism, Stress, Pathogenesis and Small RNAs in C. elegans, Madison, WI, 06/29/2018
Lezi E, An Epidermal Immune Signaling Network Regulates Antimicrobial Peptide-mediated Dendrite Degeneration in Aging, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 11/04/2018
 

COMMITTEE SERVICE:
Medical College of Wisconsin
2022 - 2023 Chair, Department Seminar Committee, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy
2023 - Present Member, Course Evaluation Committee, Graduate Studies Council
 

MEDICAL COLLEGE TEACHING ACTIVITIES:
Graduate Student Education
02/2021 Foundations in Biomedical Sciences IV, Paper discussion, Mediator
03/2021 Professional Development I, Panel session (Resilience in Science), Panelist
10/2021 Advanced Systems Neuroscience, Seminar and Paper Discussion
2021 - Present Foundations in Biomedical Sciences III, ‘Overview of C. elegans Model System’
2021 - Present Professional Development II, ‘Writing Scientific Conclusions’
2022 - Present Advanced Cell Biology, 'Mitochondria in Aging and Disease'
03/2023 - 04/2023 Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, 'C. elegans and Aging'
 

EXTRAMURAL TEACHING:
Graduate Student Education
08/2010 - 12/2020 KUMC, Health Promotion
01/2011 - 05/2011 KUMC, Research in Evidence-based Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
 

MCW STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED:
Graduate Students
Students Advised
Meera Krishna, Medical College of Wisconsin, 02/14/2022 - Present
 
Postdoctoral Students
Swapnil Waghmare, Medical College of Wisconsin, 01/2023 - Present Postdoctoral Fellow Advised
 

EXTRAMURAL STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS, AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED:
Undergraduate Students
Bryan Hernandez, University of Texas at El Paso, 06/2021 - 08/2021 Student Advised
Jalyssa Gonzales, University of Colorado Boulder, 06/2023 - 08/2023 Student Advised
 

COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES:
2005 Volunteer, Sontang Hospice Hospital, Beijing, China
2007 Volunteer and donor, Chinese Marrow Donor Program, Beijing, China
 


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Refereed Journal Publications/Original Papers
1. E L, Zhou T, Koh S, Chuang M, Sharma R, Pujol N, Chisholm AD, Eroglu C, Matsunami H, Yan D. An Antimicrobial Peptide and Its Neuronal Receptor Regulate Dendrite Degeneration in Aging and Infection. Neuron. 2018 97(1):125-138.
2. Guilford BL, Ryals JM, E L, Swerdlow RH, Wright DE. Dorsal Root Ganglia Mitochondrial Biochemical Changes in Non-diabetic and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice Fed with a Standard or High-Fat Diet. J Neurol Neurosci. 2017 8(2):180.
3. E L, Swerdlow RH. Lactate's Effect on Human Neuroblastoma Cell Bioenergetic Fluxes. Biochem Pharmacol. 2016 99:88-100.
4. Eva Selfridge J, Wilkins HM, E L, Carl SM, Koppel S, Funk E, Fields T, Lu J, Tan E, Slawson C, Wang W, Zhu H, Swerdlow RH. Effect of One Month Duration Ketogenic and non-Ketogenic High Fat Diets on Mouse Brain Bioenergetic Infrastructure. J Bioenerg Biomembr. 2015 47(1-2):1-11.
5. Wilkins HM, Harris JL, Carl SM, E L, Lu J, Eva Selfridge J, Roy N, Hutfles L, Koppel S, Morris J, Burns JM, Michaelis ML, Michaelis EK, Brooks WM, Swerdlow RH. Oxaloacetate Activates Brain Mitochondrial Biogenesis, Enhances the Insulin Pathway, Reduces Inflammation and Stimulates Neurogenesis. Hum Mol Genet. 2014 23(24):6528-41.
6. E L, Burns JM, Swerdlow RH. Effect of High-Intensity Exercise on Aged Mouse Brain Mitochondria, Neurogenesis, and Inflammation. Neurobiol Aging. 2014 35(11):2574-83.
7. Tan E, Villar MT, E L, Lu J, Selfridge JE, Artigues A, Swerdlow RH, Slawson C. Altering O-linked β-N-Acetylglucosamine Cycling Disrupts Mitochondrial Function. J Biochem. 2014 289(21):14719-30.
8. E L, Lu J, Selfridge JE, Burns JM, Swerdlow RH. Lactate Administration Reproduces Specific Brain and Liver Exercise-Related Changes. J Neurochem. 2013 127(1):91-100.
9. Silva DF, Selfridge JE, Lu J, E L, Roy N, Burns JM, Michaelis EK, Yan SS, Swerdlow RH. Bioenergetic Flux, Mitochondrial Mass, and Mitochondrial Morphology Dynamics in AD and MCI Cybrid Cell Lines. Hum Mol Genet. 2013 22(19):3931-46.
10. Swerdlow RH, E L, Aires D, Lu J. Glycolysis-respiration Relationships in a Neuroblastoma Cell Line. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 1830(4):2891-8.
11. Lu J, E L, Roy N, Hutfles L, Selfridge E, Funk E, Burns JM, Swerdlow RH. Effect of Cholinergic Signaling on Neuronal Cell Bioenergetics. J Alzheimers Dis. 2013 33(4):1135-46.
12. E L, Lu J, Burns JM, Swerdlow RH. Effect of Exercise on Mouse Liver and Brain Bioenergetic Infrastructures. Exp Physiol. 2012 98(1):207-19.
13. Aires D, Rockwell G, Wang T, Frontera J, Wick J, Wang W, Tonkovic-Capin M, Lu J, E L, Zhu H, Swerdlow RH. Potentiation of Dieterary Restriction-induced Lifespan Extension by Polyphenols. Biochim Biophys Acta, 2012 1822(4):522-6.
14. Mosconi L, de Leon M, Murray J, E L, Lu J, Javier E, McHugh P, Swerdlow RH. Reduced Mitochondria Cytochrome Oxidase Activity in Adult Children of Mothers with Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2011 27(3):483-90.
15. Lu J, E L, Wang W, Frontera J, Zhu H, Wang WT, Lee P, Choi IY, Brooks WM, Burns JM, Aires D, Swerdlow RH. Alternate Day Fasting Impacts the Brain Insulin-signaling Pathway of Young Adult Male C57BL/6 Mice. J Neurochem. 2011 117(1):154-63.
16. Lu J, Wang K, Rodova M, Esteves R, Berry D, E L, Crafter A, Barrett M, Cardoso SM, Onyango I, Parker WD, Fontes J, Burns JM, Swerdlow RH. Polymorphic Variation in Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit Genes. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010 21(1):141-54.
17. Esteves R, Lu J, Rodova M, Onyango I, E L, Dubinsky R, Lyons KE, Pahwa R, Burns JM, Cardoso SM, Swerdlow RH. Mitochondrial Respiration and Respiration Associated Proteins in Cell Lines Created through Parkinson's Subject Mitochondrial Transfer. J Neurochem. 2010 113(3):674-82.
18. Onyango IG, Lu J, Rodova M, E L, Crafter AB, Swerdlow RH. Regulation of Neuron Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Relevance to Brain Health. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2010 1802(1):228-34.
 
Books, Chapters, and Reviews
1. Stuart BAR, Franitza AL and E L*. Regulatory Roles of Antimicrobial Peptides in the Nervous System: Implications for Neuronal Aging. Front. Cell. Neurosci. 2022:16:843790.
2. Silva DF, Selfridge JE, Lu J, E L, Cardoso SM, Swerdlow RH. Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Alzheimer's Disease: Possible Targets for Therapeutic Intervention. Adv Pharmacol. 2012 64:83-126.
3. Selfridge JE, E L, Lu J, Swerdlow RH. Role of Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Dynamics in Alzheimer's Disease. Neurobiol Dis. 2012 51:3-12.
4. E L, Swerdlow RH. Mitochondria in Neurodegeneration. In "Advances in Mitochondrial Medicine", edited by Scatena R, Giardina B, Bottoni P. Germany: Springer; 2012 269p-286p. ISBN: 978-94-007-2869-1
 
Abstracts
1. Krishna M, Franitza A, Stuart B, E L*. (2023). The Neuroprotective Role of Skin Collagens in Aging. Neuroimmunomodulation, 30 Suppl 1: 21.
2. E L, Pujol N, Yan D. (2019). Age-dependent Expression of Neurodegeneration-causing Antimicrobial Peptides. 49th Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, 10/19/2019-10/23/2019.
3. E L, Zhou T, Chuang M, Sharma R, Pujol N, Chisholm AD, Matsunami H, Yan D. (2018). An Epidermal Immune Signaling Network Regulates Antimicrobial Peptide-mediated Dendrite Degeneration in Aging. 48th Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, 11/03/2018-11/07/2018.
4. E L, Zhou T, Chuang M, Sharma R, Pujol N, Chisholm AD, Matsunami H, Yan D. (2018). An Epidermal Immune Signaling Network Regulates Antimicrobial Peptide-mediated Dendrite Degeneration in Aging. C. elegans Topic Meeting: Aging, Metabolism, Stress, Pathogenesis and Small RNAs in C. elegans. Madison, WI, 06/28/2018-07/01/2018.
5. E L, Zhou T, Chuang M, Sharma R, Pujol N, Chisholm AD, Matsunami H, Yan D. (2018). An Epidermal Immune Signaling Network Regulates Antimicrobial Peptide-mediated Dendrite Degeneration in Aging. C. elegans Topic Meeting: Neuronal Development, Synaptic Function & Behavior, Madison, WI, 06/25/2018-06/28/2018.
6. E L, Zhou T, Chuang M, Sharma R, Pujol N, Chisholm AD, Matsunami H, Yan D. (2016). Epidermal Immune Signaling Regulates Aging-associated Dendrite Degeneration Through a GPCR. Gordon Research Conference on Cell Biology of the Neuron, Waterville Valley, NH, 06/27/2016.
7. E L, Yan D. (2015). Is Mitochondrial Dysfunction a Prerequisite for Aging-related Neurodegeneration? - Using PVD Neurons as a Model to Study Dendrite Degeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. 20th International C. elegans Conference, Los Angeles, CA, 06/27/2015.
8. E L, Swerdlow RH, Burns JM. (2014). Vigorous Exercise Affects Brain Mitochondria, Neurogenesis, and Inflammation-related Parameters in Aged Mice. Alzheimers Dement, 10(4):466-467.
9. E L, Billinger S, Lu J, Swerdlow RH. (2012). The effects of exercise training on mouse liver and brain energetic metabolism: lactate and activation of monocarboxylate transporter 2 (MCT2). Combined Sections Meeting, American Physical Therapy Association, Chicago, USA, 02/09/2012.
10. Lu J, E L, Swerdlow RH. (2012). Relationship Between Cholinergic Signaling and Cell Bioenergetics. Alzheimers Dement, 8(4):579.
11. Siengsukon CF, E L. (2010). Sleep Promotes Off-line Enhancement of an Explicitly Learned Discrete but not Continuous Task. J Neurol Phys Ther, 34(4):229.
12. Siengsukon CF, E L. (2009). Sleep Promotes Transfer of Learning. J Neurol Phys Ther, 33(4):226.