Zhen Zhao, Ph.D. is assistant professor of physiology & neuroscience at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute (ZNI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles. ZNI is a cross-disciplinary hub dedicated to basic neuroscience research and diseases of the brain. Dr. Zhao work focuses on genetic causes of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia, study of the molecular mechanism of the receptor-mediated transport at the blood-brain barrier, and examination of the crosstalk between the cells within the neurovascular unit.