Aelita Zhu

Program: Neurosciences

Current advisor: Adam Kepecs, PhD

Undergraduate university: Brandeis University, 2019

Enrollment year: 2019

Research summary
a neural circuit that regulates cancer cachexia asociated apathy

Cachexia is a debilitating wasting syndrome that causes significant morbility and often leads to motivational symptoms like depression. I employed a comprehensive circuit approach, including brain wide c-fos mapping, fiber photometry, optogenetics and cell type specific ablation. I discovered a brain circuit that senses inflammation and downregulate motivation in mouse model of cancer cachexia.

Graduate publications
Zhu XA, Starosta S, Ferrer M, Hou J, Chevy Q, Lucantonio F, Muñoz-Castañeda R, Zhang F, Zang K, Zhao X, Fiocchi FR, Bergstrom M, Siebels AA, Upin T, Wulf M, Evans S, Kravitz AV, Osten P, Janowitz T, Pignatelli M, Kepecs A. 2025 A neuroimmune circuit mediates cancer cachexia-associated apathy. Science, 388(6743):eadm8857. PMCID: