A specialist in gene analysis and praised for his friendliness
and sense of humor, Zheng Luo, staff research associate in the UCLA
Department of Neurology, died July 28 of a liver abscess. He was
35.
Luo was born in Nanchang, China, and graduated from Zhejiang
University in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in biological
sciences and technology. In 1995, Luo obtained a master’s
degree in cell biology at Peking University before moving to the
United States a year later. He received a master’s degree in
molecular medicine from the University of Texas Health Science
Center in 1999 and since then he had worked at UCLA’s
Geschwind Laboratory.
At the laboratory, Luo worked with neurogenetics program
director Daniel Geschwind on two major projects. The first involved
the identification of genes that may be asymmetric to one side of
the human brain.
In his most recent research, Luo was trying to understand the
function of the FOXP2 gene, which is known to mutate, resulting in
a speech and language disorder. Geschwind said that Luo “was
fairly advanced and worked more independently than the other
technicians.”
While praised for his sophisticated research, Luo was also known
as a very sociable worker at the laboratory.
“He was very polite,” said Jing Ou, another
technician in the laboratory. “Normally I would see his
smiling face. He was very funny, and tried to make jokes and tell
funny stories.”
Diana Vi, an undergraduate laboratory assistant, echoed
Ou’s sentiment.
“He was really personal, really nice and friendly ““
a really intelligent guy,” she said. “He’d always
say hi to me and make small talk.”
The Chinese Students and Scholars Association is holding a
memorial service for Luo today in the third floor ballroom of the
Tom Bradley International Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Luo had no family living in the United States, but his mother,
Cuiying Lin, and brother, Qiong, recently arrived in Los Angeles.
In support of Luo’s family, direct donations can be made to
the Chinese Students and Scholars Association.