Moses Chao
American neuroscientist
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Through Cell biology, Physiology and Chromatin
Early life and education
In 1972, Chao earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry at Pomona College in Claremont, California. In 1980, he earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry at University of California, Los Angeles. He researched chromatin structure at the Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA. After earning his doctorate, Chao worked as a research fellow at Columbia University from 1980 to 1983, where he carried out his postdoctoral research with molecular biologist Richard Axel.
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Research
Since 2019, Chao has been a lead investigator at New York University investigating the mechanisms behind specificity of neuronal growth factor (NGF), with specific emphasis on neuronal growth, differentiation, and signaling. A landmark discovery of Chao's lab was the identification of genes responsible for encoding the receptors of NGF. The lab is currently investigating the mechanisms of trophic factors used to alter plasticity in synapses. A significant area of focus for Chao and his research associates are neurotrophins. Neutrophins act in the nervous system to assist cells in differentiation, as well as survival mechanisms and higher-order functions, including addiction, pain, neurodegenerative conditions, anxiety, and depression. Chao has also researched the impact of exercise on the brain.
Faculty positions
As of 2019, Chao has worked as a professor in the departments of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology, and Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health Medical Center. In addition, he is also the coordinator of the Molecular Biology Program. In the past, he has held a professorship in Cell Biology at the Weill Cornell Medical College. Additionally, he has held positions including Secretary, Chair of the Committee on Committees, Senior Editor of the Journal of Neuroscience, Chair of the Program Committee, and President of Society for Neuroscience in 2012. Chao has also been a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Neuroscience (Senior Editor, 11 years), Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience as well as the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Finally, he has served as a board member at Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundations, Simons Foundation, Vollum Institute, and St Jude's Cancer Center.