Xianrong Mao received a B.S. from Lanzhou University in China, and a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas for Med Science. His research background is neuroscience, in particular with genetic and metabolic approaches. Currently his focus is identifying the signaling pathways activating SARM1, the central molecule controlling axon degeneration. Mao is investigating how activity SARM1 is activated in response to axon damage. This will also allow scientists to find tools to suppress SARM1 activity and further down the road will give them therapeutic intervention to block axon degeneration.