Stefan Strack, PhD
Principal Investigator
John Paul Long Professor
Primary Office: 2-439 BSB
Office Phone: (319) 384-4439
Born and raised in Germany, Dr. Strack received his undergraduate degree (Vordiplom) from the University of Würzburg, Germany, and his M.Sc. (1988, Computer Sciences) and Ph.D. (1991, Biology) from the State University of New York at Albany. After postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Strack joined the faculty in Pharmacology at the University of Iowa in 2000, where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2006 and Professor in 2012. He holds a secondary appointment in Pathology, is a member of the graduate programs in Neuroscience and Molecular Medicine, and directs the predoctoral training grant (T32) in Pharmacological Sciences. He currently holds the John Paul Long endowed professorship and serves as the Interim Chair of Neuroscience & Pharmacology.
Lab: 2-400 BSB
Lab phone: (319) 384-4447
Email: stefan-strack@uiowa.edu
Alex Glebov-McCloud
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Address: 2-400 BSB
Phone: (319) 384-4447
Email: alex-glebov-mccloud@uiowa.edu
Alex received his PhD from the University of Iowa in 2026. In collaboration with the Jin Zheng and Susan Taylor labs at UC San Diego, he characterizes PRKAR1B variants in vitro and in primary neuronal cultures.
Tehreem Haider
Pharmacology Graduate Student
Address: 2-400 BSB
Phone: (319) 384-4447
Email: tehreem-haider@uiowa.edu
Tehreem's research focuses on understanding how genetic mutations disrupt neural development and interfere with synaptic signaling pathways, ultimately leading to neurodevelopmental disorders. She is particularly interested in uncovering the molecular mechanisms that impair brain circuit formation and drive cognitive and behavioral challenges. By shedding light on these processes, she hopes to identify potential therapeutic targets and contribute to developing interventions that can improve outcomes for individuals affected by these conditions.
Chian Ju Jong, PhD
Assistant Research Scientist
Address: 2-400 BSB
Phone: (319) 384-4447
Email: chianju-jong@uiowa.edu
Chian Ju was born and raised in Malaysia. She then came to the United States and received her PhD from the University of South Alabama. She then completed a one-year postdoctoral training at the University of Western Ontario in Canada before joining the Strack lab in 2017. Currently, her research focuses on pharmacological intervention into Jordan’s Syndrome as well as characterization of Cre-inducible Jordan's Syndrome model mice.
Publications
Kathleen (Kat) Kelley
Research Assistant
Address: 2-400 BSB
Phone: (319) 384-4447
email: kathleen-kelley@uiowa.edu
As a trained animal care taker, Kat maintains the mouse colonies of the Strack lab. She also assist with many experiments involving mice.
Yufang Kong
Research Associate
Address: 2-400 BSB
Phone: (319) 384-4447
Email: yufang-kong@uiowa.edu
Yufang is the general lab manager. Born and raised in China, Yufang received her undergraduate degree in nursing from the Second Military Medical University in Shanghai, China. She joined the Strack lab as a research assistant in 2014. She maintains animal colonies, as well as takes care of subcloning, and assists everyone in the lab with their projects.
Ruiqi Lyu
Pharmacology Graduate Student
Address: 2-400 BSB
Phone: (319) 384-4447
Email: ruiqi-lyu@uiowa.edu
Ruiqi's research focuses on the role of GABAergic neurons, particularly Gad2-expressing cells, in the neurodevelopment of newborn mice.
Walter Saide, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Address: 2-400 BSB
Phone: (319) 384-4447
Email: walter-saide@uiowa.edu
Walter Saide received his PhD in 2023 from Purdue, where he studied calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CamKII) variants that cause intellectual disabilities. In the Strack lab, he continues this work by characterizing mouse models of PKA-related neurological disorders.