Dr. Ip's research in early years focused on understanding the roles of neurotrophic factors in neuromuscular junction formation and after nerve injury. In recent years, she has focused on drug discovery for small molecules and medicinal herbal extracts that promote neuronal survival and plasticity. She and her team develop Chinese herbal compounds into novel treatments for neurodegenerative and neurological disorders using cutting-edge disease models and platforms. Moreover, Dr. Ip has published more than 50 scientific papers in reputable journals and holds 35 patents.