Shirley Cao, B.S.

Shirley graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Psychobiology. She initially developed an interest in neurodegenerative diseases through an upper-division lab course taught by Dr. Bitan, where she learned about the molecular and biochemical processes underlying these disorders. She found the phenomenon of protein aggregation and its role in neurodegenerative diseases particularly fascinating. Inspired by the potential of biomarker research to improve diagnosis and treatment, Shirley joined the Bitan Lab in the Spring of 2026 with an interest in applying biochemical approaches to investigating biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. She is currently focusing on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Outside of the lab, Shirley volunteers in hospice care, where she works with patients affected by neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, further strengthening her interest in understanding these disorders and improving patient care.