The research in the Chung group focuses on understanding the role of microglia in neuroinflammation. Inflammation is a key component of pathophysiology of both acute injuries and chronic diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Microglia activation/chemotaxis is prerequisite for microglia function whether neuroprotective or inflammatory, making understanding essential for design of rational approaches for therapeutic modulation and regulation of microglia proliferation and chemotaxis.  Emphasis is on control of activation/chemotaxis of resident microglia in the brain in early stages of neuroinflammation.  Unraveling complex networks of signaling downstream of P2Y12 receptor during microglia chemotaxis is an important target.  Elucidation of neurotoxic effects of microglia observed in depression is another area of research interests.