Author

Nilsa La Cunza

University of California, San FranciscoORCID 0000-0001-5858-0114Unclaimed ORCID profile · follow to get notified of new preprints

Biology Disciplines

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Neuroscience· 2 Cell Biology· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Approach:experimental assay· 3 Organism:mouse· 3 Research Focus:cancer & tumor microenvironment· 1 Organism:human· 1 Research Focus:metabolism & bioenergetics· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Aparna LakkarajuiD· 3 shared Colin J. GermeriD· 2 shared Li Xuan TaniD· 2 shared Aras N. MattisiD· 1 shared Elizabeth TheuschiD· 1 shared Emma Iorio· 1 shared Fanny M. ElahiiD· 1 shared Gurugirijha RathnasamyiD· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2021-2026 · peak 2/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 23 mutual co-author links

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3 shared papersNeuroscience

Aparna LakkarajuORCID

Mutual co-authors in cluster

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3 papers

Recent·Most cited

NeurosciencebioRxivPreprintFeb 22, 2026

Acid sphingomyelinase inhibition restores RPE homeostasis and photoreceptor function in preclinical Stargardt macular degeneration models

Colin J. Germer, Sydney Williams, Valencia Fernandes…·Aparna Lakkaraju

This study shows that inhibiting acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) restores RPE function and photoreceptor health in Stargardt disease models by reducing ceramide accumulation and improving EV biogenesis.

DOI 10.64898/2026.02.20.706984

mouseexperimental assay

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Cell BiologyCell Death and DiseasePeer-reviewedJan 9, 2026

Loss of TMEM55B modulates lipid metabolism through dysregulated lipophagy and mitochondrial function

Yuanyuan Qin, Sheila S. Teker, Nilsa La Cunza…·Marisa Wong Medina

This study shows that TMEM55B loss disrupts lipid metabolism by altering lipophagy and mitochondrial function, worsening MASLD in mice.

5 citationstop 1%

mouseexperimental assay

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NeuroscienceJCI InsightPeer-reviewedApr 6, 2021

Mitochondria-dependent phase separation of disease-relevant proteins drives pathological features of age-related macular degeneration

Nilsa La Cunza, Li Xuan Tan, Thushara Thamban…·Aparna Lakkaraju

This study identifies mitochondrial stress-mediated protein phase separation as a key pathogenic mechanism in AMD, linking genetic risk factors to RPE dysfunction.

65 citationstop 1%

humanmouse

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