Zhaolong Adrian Li
Program: Unspecified
Current advisor:
Undergraduate university: Washington University
Research summary
My rotation in Dr. Tamara Hershey’s lab focused on characterizing microstrutcural development in the brain’s white matter in Wolfram syndrome. A multicompartmental model, namely diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI), allowed in vivo assessment of myelin integrity, cellularity, and axonal density; using generalized mixed additive models, I showed that the developmental trajectories on these tissue properties differ in individuals with and without Wolfram syndrome. This research identified putative pathological mechanisms and their timing underlying neurological deficits in Wolfram syndrome.
In my other projects, I examined the development of brain volumes and resting-state functional connectivity as well as mental health and cognitive performance as functions of socioeconomic status and childhood adversity. These works have demonstrated both unique and overlapping links between facets of adversity and brain health, illuminating pathways to support healthy development in diverse youth.
Graduate publications