About Dr. Y. Alvin Huang

• Physician–scientist bridging clinic and bench, M.D. and neurology residency at National Taiwan University, where he cared for patients with neurodegenerative disease; Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins; postdoctoral training at Stanford with Thomas Südhof. The clinical questions came first; the tools came second..

• James and Dorothy Goodman Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistryat Brown University, with affiliations in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry,, the Carney Institute for Brain Science, the Center on the Biology of Aging and the Center for Translational Neuroscience in the Brown Institute for Translational Sciences.

• Leads a research program on neuron–glia communication in Alzheimer’s disease, Angelman syndrome, and autoimmune demyelination — supported by NIA R01, R21, and K99/R00 awards, the Alzheimer’s Association Strategic Fund, and the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics. His lab established CHI3L1/YKL-40 as a driver rather than a bystander of neuroinflammation.

• Builds the model systems the field uses. Author of the published protocols for human iPSC-derived microglia, neuron–astrocyte–microglia tri-cultures, neuron–oligodendrocyte co-cultures, and autophagic flux measurement in human neurons — and developer of a 3D hybrid human–rodent microglia platform.

• Committed mentor and teacher. Graduate trainer in Brown’s MCB, Neuroscience, and Therapeutic Sciences programs and instructor for Molecular Genetics (BIOL 1540/2540). Recipient of the 2024 Junior Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award from the Carney Institute. His trainees have gone on to industry research, independent faculty positions, and medical school.serving as a graduate trainer in Brown’s MCB, Neuroscience, and Pathophysiology & Therapeutic Sciences programs.

• Translating discovery into therapy. Co-founder of Acre Therapeutics LLC, developing first-in-class secretory-autophagy therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease and tauopathies including PSP — a 2025 NIA Start-Up Challenge winner and recipient of Brown’s 2025 Innovation of the Year Award.