Cai Lab

We focus on the molecular and cellular mechanism of brain vascular disease. We also develop neuroprosthetic technology for treatment of brain disorders.

 

Cai Lab investigates how the neurovascular unit and neural circuits fail in brain disease, and how this knowledge can be translated into the development of new neurotechnologies and therapies.

Our research has two closely connected pillars. First, we study the cellular mechanisms of neurovascular dysfunction in the living brain, with a particular focus on neurovascular coupling, blood flow regulation, vascular cell signalling in health, ageing, and ischemic stroke/reperfusion injury. Second, we develop novel neuroprosthetic and neuromodulation strategies for brain disorders, such as next-generation implantable micromagnetic coil-based microdevices for vision restoration and epilepsy.

To address these questions, we combine multimodal in vivo imaging in awake and behaving mice with electrophysiology, viral tools, behavioural paradigms, and quantitative data analysis. By integrating neuroscience, vascular biology, and bioengineering, we aim both to uncover fundamental disease mechanisms and to advance new treatment strategies for neurological disorders.

Lab introduction
Lab introduction - click for large image

 

  1. Grundfest D., Kim K., Qinxue W., Yonza A., Podsiadlo J., Tao L., Zhang X., Kucharz K., Zhang Y., Han A., Lind B.#, Cai C.#. Spatiotemporally distinctive astrocytic and neuronal responses to repetitive intracortical microstimulation. The Journal of Neural Engineering. (2026). (Accepted, in press) # Corresponding author.
  2. Anand G., Chang B., Tao L., Kim K., Eriksen A., Perdigão B., Schönhoff A., Liu X., Genelioglu S., Zahoor N., Lind J., Hansen T., Cai C.#, Han A.#. Solid Ethanol as a Renewable, Low-Toxicity, Electron-Beam Direct Write, and Biomedical Material. Advanced Science. (2026). (Accepted, in press) # Corresponding author.
  3. Liu X., Chang B., Kim K., Anand G., Genelioglu S., Cai C.#, Anpan Han#. “Tone-arm” Neuromodulation MEMS Microcoil for in-vivo imaging. (2026). 22, no. 22: e14159. # Corresponding author.
  4. Lind B., Kucharz K., Cai C.#. In vivo two-photon microscopy for studies of neurovascular coupling in rodents: a beginner’s guide. Neurophotonics. (2025). Jun;12(Suppl 2):S22808. doi: 10.1117/1.NPh.12.S2.S22808. Epub 2025 Nov 4. PMID: 41195331; PMCID: PMC12585108. # Corresponding author.
  5. Yonza A.K.I., Tao L., Zhang X., Postnov D., Kucharz K., Lind B., Asiminas A., Han A., Sonego V., Kim K.#, Cai C.#. Spatially and temporally mismatched blood flow and neuronal activity by high-intensity intracortical microstimulation. Brain Stimulation. (2025) May-Jun;18(3):885-896. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2025.04.015. Epub 2025 Apr 15. PMID: 40246195. # Corresponding author.
  6. Kim K., Liu X., Chang B., Li G., Anand G, Genelioglu S., Yonza A.K.I., Whalen A., Berg R., Han A.#, Cai C. #. Micro-Coil Neuromodulation at Single-Cell and Circuit Levels for Inhibiting Natural Neuroactivity, Neutralizing Electric Neural Excitation and Suppressing Seizures. Advanced Science. (2025). Jun;12(22):e2416771. doi: 10.1002/advs.202416771. PMID: 40243111; PMCID: PMC12165067. # Corresponding author.
  7. Zhang X., Tao L., Nygaard A., Dong Y., Hong X., Goddard C., He C., Postnov D., Allodi I., Lauritzen M., Cai C.#. Aging alters calcium signaling in vascular mural cells and drives remodeling of neurovascular coupling in the awake brain. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. (2025) 13: 271678X251320455. doi: 10.1177/0271678X251320455. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39947907; PMCID: PMC11826828. # Corresponding author.
  8. Cai C. #, Zambach S., Grubb S., Tao L., He C., Lind B., Thomsen K., Zhang, X., Hald B., Nielsen R., Kim K., Devor A., Lønstrup M., Lauritzen M #. Impaired dynamics of precapillary sphincters and pericytes at first-order capillaries predict reduced neurovascular function in the aging mouse brain. Nature Aging 3, 173–184 (2023). # Corresponding author.
  9. Zambach S.*, Cai C.*#, Helms H.C., Hald B., Dong Y., Fordsmann J.C., Nielsen R.M., Hu J., Lonstrup M., Brodin B., Lauritzen M.J. # Precapillary sphincters and pericytes at first-order capillaries as key regulators for brain capillary perfusion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA (2021) 118 (26). doi:10.1073/pnas.2023749118. * Co-first author. # Corresponding author.
  10. Grubb S.*, Cai C.*, Hald B., Khennouf L., Jensen A., Murmu R., Fordsmann J., Zambach S., Lauritzen M. Precapillary sphincters maintain perfusion in the cerebral cortex. Nature Communications. (2020) Jan 20; 11(1):395. * Co-first author.
  11. Cai C., Fordsmann J. C., Jensen S. H., Gesslein B., Lonstrup M., Hald B. O., Zambach S. A., Brodin B., Lauritzen M. J. Stimulation-induced increases in cerebral blood flow and local capillary vasoconstriction depend on conducted vascular responses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA (2018), 115(25): E5796-E5804.
  12. Cai, C., Zambach, S. A., Fordsmann, J. C., Lønstrup, M., Thomsen, K. J., Jensen, A. G., Lauritzen, M. In Vivo Three-Dimensional Two-Photon Microscopy to Study Conducted Vascular Responses by Local ATP Ejection Using a Glass Micro-Pipette. Journal of Visualized Experiments. (148), e59286, doi:10.3791/59286 (2019).
  13. Cai, C., Twyford, P., & Fried, S. The response of retinal neurons to high-frequency stimulation. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2013, 10(3), 036009.
  14. Cai C., Ren Q., Desai N., Rizzo J., Fried S. Response variability to high rates of electric stimulation in retinal ganglion cells. Journal of neurophysiology. 2011, 106: 153–162.
  15. Cai C., Li L., Li X., Chai X., Sun J., Lu Y., Sui X., Chen P., Ren Q. Response properties of electrically evoked potential elicitesd by multi-channel penetrative optic nerve stimulation in rabbits. Documenta ophthalmologica. 2009, 118 (3): 191-204.

 

Education

2007-2011      Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University (SJTU), China (Co-educated by Harvard Medical School, USA)

2005-2007     M.E. (Master of Engineering), Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, SJTU, China

2002-2006     B.S. (Bachelor of Science), Applied Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, SJTU, China

2001-2005     B.E. (Bachelor of Engineering) (Highest GPA), Biomedical Engineering, Department of Computer Science, SJTU, China

Work experience

2023-             Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2021-             Principal Investigator, Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2019-2021      Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (with Prof. Martin Lauritzen on cerebral blood flow regulation)

2014-2021      PostDoctoral fellow, Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (with Prof. Martin Lauritzen on cerebral blood flow regulation)

2012-2014      PostDoctoral fellow, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Denmark (with Prof. Leif Østergaard on cerebral blood flow regulation)

2008-2010      Research fellow, Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School (with Prof. Joseph Rizzo and Prof. Shelley Fried on visual prosthesis)

Major research grants

2026-2027     Lundbeck Foundation Experiment, on novel treatment of brain ischemic stroke (co-PI)

2025-2028     Novo Nordisk Foundation, Interdisciplinary Synergy, on development of novel brain stimulation technique for epilepsy treatment (co-PI)

2024-2026     Novo Nordisk Foundation, Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy, on development of ultra-fast volumetric light-sheet microscopy (co-PI)

2024-2026     Lundbeck Foundation Experiment, on novel brain stimulation electrodes (co-PI)

2022-2024     DFF Inge Lehmann, on visual prosthetics (main PI)

2022-2024     Novo Nordisk Foundation, Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy, on visual prosthetics (co-PI)

2021-2026     Lundbeck Foundation Fellowship, on vascular physiology (main PI, 10 mio dkk, starting grant)

2013-2014     Lundbeck Foundation postdoc fellowship, on vascular physiology (postdoc grant)

Award

2023              Runner-up of ‘Best paper of the year’ in the Department of Neuroscience, UCPH

2021              Lundbeck Foundation fellowship award (starting grant to establish own research group)

2007              Outstanding Master Student, SJTU, China (top 5%)

2005              Outstanding Graduate, SJTU, China (top 5%)

2001              Outstanding High-School Student, Henan Province, China (top 0.1%)

 

In vivo multimodal imaging in awake and behaving mice, as well as anesthetized and in vitro patch clamp in brain slices.

Our technical expertise includes:

◊    Develop, implant, and validate novel brain stimulation/recording probe

◊    Two-photon imaging microscopy

◊    Laser-speckle imaging microscopy

◊    Wide-field imaging microscopy

◊    Video monitoring and analysis of animal behaviors

◊    Mouse 3D virtual reality binocular goggles with synchronized locomotion

◊    Mouse brain ischemic stroke and reperfusion model

◊    Brain viral injection and expression

◊    Anesthetized and awake mouse brain studies

◊    Patch clamp and Electrophysiology

◊    Immunohistochemistry

◊    MATLAB, Python and R programming for comprehensive data analysis

 

 

  1. Grundfest D., Kim K., Qinxue W., Yonza A., Podsiadlo J., Tao L., Zhang X., Kucharz K., Zhang Y., Han A., Lind B.#, Cai C.#. Spatiotemporally distinctive astrocytic and neuronal responses to repetitive intracortical microstimulation. The Journal of Neural Engineering. (2026). (Accepted, in press) # Corresponding author.
  2. Anand G., Chang B., Tao L., Kim K., Eriksen A., Perdigão B., Schönhoff A., Liu X., Genelioglu S., Zahoor N., Lind J., Hansen T., Cai C.#, Han A.#. Solid Ethanol as a Renewable, Low-Toxicity, Electron-Beam Direct Write, and Biomedical Material. Advanced Science. (2026, IF = 15.1). (Accepted, in press) # Corresponding author.
  3. Sormann, J., Fjorbak, C. L., Vicino, M. F., Usher, S., Lang, B., Epitropaki, K., Hink, F., Friis, S., Rogers, J., Autzen, H., Cai, C. & Pless, S. A. Targeting hASIC1a in stroke with deep learning-generated miniproteins. Biophysical Journal. (2026, IF =3.4) 125, 4, p. 199a-199a 1 p., 1121-Pos.
  4. Liu X., Chang B., Kim K., Anand G., Genelioglu S., Cai C.#, Anpan Han#. “Tone-arm” Neuromodulation MEMS Microcoil for in-vivo imaging. (2026, IF=13). 22, no. 22(2026): e14159. # Corresponding author.
  5. Lind B., Kucharz K., Cai C.#. In vivo two-photon microscopy for studies of neurovascular coupling in rodents: a beginner’s guide. Neurophotonics. (2025, IF=4.5). Jun;12(Suppl 2):S22808. doi: 10.1117/1.NPh.12.S2.S22808. Epub 2025 Nov 4. PMID: 41195331; PMCID: PMC12585108. # Corresponding author.
  6. Yonza A.K.I., Tao L., Zhang X., Postnov D., Kucharz K., Lind B., Asiminas A., Han A., Sonego V., Kim K.#, Cai C.#. Spatially and temporally mismatched blood flow and neuronal activity by high-intensity intracortical microstimulation. Brain Stimulation. (2025, IF=9.61) May-Jun;18(3):885-896. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2025.04.015. Epub 2025 Apr 15. PMID: 40246195. # Corresponding author.
  7. Kim K., Liu X., Chang B., Li G., Anand G, Genelioglu S., Yonza A.K.I., Whalen A., Berg R., Han A., Cai C. #. Micro-Coil Neuromodulation at Single-Cell and Circuit Levels for Inhibiting Natural Neuroactivity, Neutralizing Electric Neural Excitation and Suppressing Seizures. Advanced Science. (2025, IF = 15.1). Jun;12(22):e2416771. doi: 10.1002/advs.202416771. PMID: 40243111; PMCID: PMC12165067. # Corresponding author.
  8. Zhang X., Tao L., Nygaard A., Dong Y., Hong X., Goddard C., He C., Postnov D., Allodi I., Lauritzen M., Cai C.#. Aging alters calcium signaling in vascular mural cells and drives remodeling of neurovascular coupling in the awake brain. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. (2025, IF = 5.15) 13: 271678X251320455. doi: 10.1177/0271678X251320455. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39947907; PMCID: PMC11826828. # Corresponding author.
  9. Zhukov, O., He C., Cai C., Lauritzen A., Aldana B., Lauritzen M., Kucharz K. Preserved blood-brain barrier and neurovascular coupling in female 5xFAD model of Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. (2023) May 5;15:1089005. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1089005. PMID: 37261266; PMCID: PMC10228387.
  10. Liu X., Whalen J., Ryu S., Lee S., Fried S., Kim K., Cai C., Lauritzen M., Bertram N., Changs B., Yu T., Han A. MEMS micro-coils for magnetic neurostimulation. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. (2023).
  11. Cai C. #, Zambach S., Grubb S., Tao L., He C., Lind B., Thomsen K., Zhang, X., Hald B., Nielsen R., Kim K., Devor A., Lønstrup M., Lauritzen M #. Impaired dynamics of precapillary sphincters and pericytes at first-order capillaries predict reduced neurovascular function in the aging mouse brain. Nature Aging 3, 173–184 (2023, IF = 21.9). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-022-00354-1 # Corresponding author.
  12. Cai C., Lauritzen M. Changes in neurovascular function in brain microvessels during aging. Nature Aging (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-022-00355-0.
  13. Zambach S.*, Cai C.*#, Helms H.C., Hald B., Dong Y., Fordsmann J.C., Nielsen R.M., Hu J., Lonstrup M., Brodin B., Lauritzen M.J. # Precapillary sphincters and pericytes at first-order capillaries as key regulators for brain capillary perfusion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA 2021, 118 (26). doi:10.1073/pnas.2023749118. * Co-first author. # Corresponding author.
  14. Hørlyck S., Cai C., Helms H., Lauritzen M., Brodin B. ATP induces contraction of cultured brain capillary pericytes, via activation of P2Y type purinergic receptors. American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 2020 Dec. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00560.2020.
  15. Grubb S.*, Cai C.*, Hald B., Khennouf L., Jensen A., Murmu R., Fordsmann J., Zambach S., Lauritzen M. Precapillary sphincters maintain perfusion in the cerebral cortex. Nature Communications. 2020 Jan 20; 11(1):395. * Co-first author.
  16. Cai C., Fordsmann J. C., Jensen S. H., Gesslein B., Lonstrup M., Hald B. O., Zambach S. A., Brodin B., Lauritzen M. J. Stimulation-induced increases in cerebral blood flow and local capillary vasoconstriction depend on conducted vascular responses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA 2018, 115(25): E5796-E5804.
  17. Cai, C., Zambach, S. A., Fordsmann, J. C., Lønstrup, M., Thomsen, K. J., Jensen, A. G., Lauritzen, M. In Vivo Three-Dimensional Two-Photon Microscopy to Study Conducted Vascular Responses by Local ATP Ejection Using a Glass Micro-Pipette. Journal of Visualized Experiments. (148), e59286, doi:10.3791/59286 (2019).
  18. Fordsmann J., Nielsen R., Cai C., Brazhe A., Thomsen K., Zambach S. A., Lonstrup M., Lind B. L., Lauritzen M. J. Spontaneous astrocytic Ca2+ activity abounds in electrically suppressed ischemic penumbra of aged mice. Glia. 2019. 67 (1), pp 37-52
  19. Nielsen, Fordsmann J., Cai C., Brazhe A., Thomsen K., Lauritzen M. Sensory Stimulation-Induced Astrocytic Calcium Signaling in Electrically Silent Ischemic Penumbra. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2019. 11(223), pp 1-12
  20. Fordsmann J., Nielsen R., Cai C., Brazhe A., Thomsen K., Zambach S. A., Lonstrup M., Lind B. L., Lauritzen M. J. Ion activity in mice offers insight into how to save stroke-stricken older brains. Research Square. 2019. doi:10.21203/rs.2.15069/v1
  21. Grubb S., Cai C., Khennouf L., Hald B., Murmu R., Zambach S., Lauritzen M. Precapillary sphincters exist in the brain and regulate blood flow to the capillary bed. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 2019 (39).
  22. Cui K., Fan C., Chen G., Qiu Y., Li M., Lin M., Wan J., Cai C., Xiao Z. para-Aminothiophenol Radical Reaction-Functionalized Gold Nanoprobe for One-to-All Detection of Five Reactive Oxygen Species In Vivo. Analytical Chemistry. 2018, 90 (20), pp 12137–12144
  23. Jimenez E., Cai C., Mikkelsen I., Rasmussen P., Angleys H., Merrild M., Mouridsen K., Jespersen S., Lee J., Iversen N., Sakadzic S., Østergaard L. Effect of electrical forepaw stimulation on capillary transit-time heterogeneity (CTH). Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 2016, 36.12: 2072-2086.
  24. Khennouf L., Fordsmann J., Cai C., Brazhe A., Mathiesen C., Gesslein BV, Rasmussen Sondergaard, Kucharz K, Lauritzen M. The basis of vascular reactions during spreading depression and astroglial calcium waves. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. 2016, 36. 11:11
  25. Twyford P., Cai C., Fried S. Differential responses to high-frequency electrical stimulation in ON and OFF retinal ganglion cells. Journal of neural engineering. 2014, 11.2: 025001.
  26. Østergaard L., Aamand R, Karabegovic S, Tietze A, Blicher J, Mikkelsen I, Iversen N, Secher N, Engedal T, Anzabi M, Jimenez E., Cai C., Koch K, Naess-Schmidt E, Obel A, Juul N, Rasmussen M, Soerensen J. The role of the microcirculation in delayed cerebral ischemia and chronic degenerative changes after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Journal of Cerebral Flow and Metabolism. 2013, 33.12: 1825-1837.
  27. Cai, C., Twyford, P., & Fried, S. The response of retinal neurons to high-frequency stimulation. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2013, 10(3), 036009.
  28. Østergaard L., Jespersen S., Mouridsen K., Mikkelsen I., Jónsdottir K.Y., Tietze A., Blicher J., Hjort N., Iversen N.K., Cai C., Hovgaard K., Simonsen C., Von Weitzel-Mudersbach P., Modrau B., Nagenthiraja K., Ribe L.,  Hansen M., Bekke S., Dahlmann M., Puig J., Pedraza S., Serena J., Cho T.-H., Siemonsen S., Thomalla G., Fiehler J., Nighoghossian N., Andersen, G. The Role of the cerebral capillaries in acute ischemic stroke: The extended penumbra model. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 2013, 33(5), 635-648.
  29. Cai C., Ren Q., Desai N., Rizzo J., Fried S. Response variability to high rates of electric stimulation in retinal ganglion cells. Journal of neurophysiology. 2011, 106: 153–162.
  30. Fried S., Cai C., Ren Q. High frequency electric stimulation of retinal neurons elicits physiological signaling patterns. 33rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS, 2011, Page: 1077-1080.
  31. Fried S., Cai C., Ren Q., Rizzo J. Factors affecting the reliability by which spikes are generated in response to high rates of stimulation. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 52(14):4955-4956
  32. Sun J., Lu Y., Cao P., Li X., Cai C., Chai X., Ren Q., and Li L. Spatiotemporal Properties of Multi-peaked Electrically Evoked Potentials Elicited by Penetrative Optic Nerve Stimulation in Rabbits. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2011, 52(1): 146-154.
  33. Desai N.J., Rizzo J.F., Fried S.I., Cai C. Evaluation of Elicited Action Potential Kinetics in Response to Electric Stimulation of the Retina. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2010, 51(13):3045-3046
  34. Chen J., Doyle P., Cai C., Dumser J., Akhmechet R., Gingerich M.D., Kelly S.K., Shire D.B., Rizzo J.F. Surgical implantation of 1.5 generation retinal implant in minipig eyes. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 51 (13), 3052-3052
  35. Cai C., Li L., Li X., Chai X., Sun J., Lu Y., Sui X., Chen P., Ren Q. Response properties of electrically evoked potential elicitesd by multi-channel penetrative optic nerve stimulation in rabbits. Documenta ophthalmologica. 2009, 118 (3): 191-204.
  36. Li X., Cai C., Li L., Chai X., Ren Q. Low-hemorrhage-risk surgical approach to expose the optic nerve in rabbits without bony removal and rectus resection. Veterinary ophthalmology. 2009, 12(4): 227-33
  37. Li L., Sun M., Cao P., Cai C., Chai X., Li X., Chen P. and Ren Q. A visual prosthesis based on optic nerve stimulation: In vivo electrophysiological study in rabbits. 7th Asian-Pacific Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering IFMBE Proceedings, 2008, Volume 19, Part 2, 54-57.
  38. Cai C., Zhao Y., Li L., Wu K., Chai X., Ren Q. Multi-channel microelectrode recording of MUA in cat visual cortex by electrical stimulation in optic nerve. 2007 IEEE/ICME International Conference on Complex Medical Engineering. 2007 (5): 1302-1306.
  39. Chai X., Yu W., Wang J., Zhao Y., Cai C., Ren Q. Recognition of pixelized Chinese characters using simulated prosthetic vision. Artificial organs. 2007 Mar; 31(3):175-82.

 

 

Lab members

Name Title Job responsibilities
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Changsi Cai Associate Professor Cai lab Billede af Changsi Cai
Jeremi Tadeusz Podsiadlo Master-Student Cai Lab Billede af Jeremi Tadeusz Podsiadlo
Kayeon Kim Assistant Professor Cai Lab Billede af Kayeon Kim
Lechan Tao Postdoc Cai Lab Billede af Lechan Tao
Qinxue Wang Master-Student Cai Lab Billede af Qinxue Wang
Samantha Joubert Guest Researcher Cai Lab Billede af Samantha Joubert
Xiao Zhang Assistant Professor Cai Lab, Lauritzen Lab Billede af Xiao Zhang