Research Focus

In Dr. Jiming Kong’s research program, he seeks to understand molecular regulation of neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative diseases.  Together with his lab group, using in vivo and in vitro models of stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and depression, he examines the role of post-translational oxidative modification of SOD1 in the development of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.  His lab personnel investigates the role of mitochondrial death-inducing proteins in regulating mitophagy and delayed neuronal death in stroke.  Dr. Kong’s lab group has also been testing a demyelinating hypothesis of schizophrenia.

Student Research Opportunities

The foci of research in Dr. Jiming Kong’s lab is diverse.  Main research foci include: • Molecular regulation of cell death in hypoxia and ischemia • Therapeutic strategies of preventing delayed neuronal death in neonatal stroke by targeting the BNIP3 cell- death pathway • Oligodendrocyte dysfunction as a mechanism of schizophrenia Prospective students, post-doctoral fellows and visiting scholars are encouraged to contact Dr. Jiming Kong for more information regarding recruitment.  Email: jiming.kong@med.umanitoba.ca