Educational Background
2012-2018 Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D.
2007-2011 Shandong Agricultural University, Bachelor's Degree
Work Experience
2023-Present Songjiang Research Institute, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Independent PI (Young Researcher).
2019-2022 Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Postdoctoral Researcher/Young Researcher
Our group focuses on investigating the mechanisms and strategies for neural circuit remodeling under conditions of brain disorders. We also conduct reverse translational research, bridging the gap between clinical discoveries and basic research, to decipher the neural mechanisms of brain function recovery with the assistance of neuromodulating methods of various physical aspects (sonic, optical, electrical and magnetic). These insights provide novel strategies for clinical treatment of brain functional disorders. Our lab employs a comprehensive approach, combining multi-scale calcium imaging with optogenetic stimulation techniques, electrophysiological recordings, pharmacogenetics, whole-brain specific neural circuit tracing, and precise behavioral quantitative analysis, to achieve various objectives: (1) revealing the pathological mechanisms underlying the abnormal integration of sensory-motor information under brain disorders such as brain injuries, autism, and Parkinson's disease; (2) identifying biomarkers and regulatory targets in the process of brain function remodeling induced by peripheral and central sensory stimulation; (3) developing closed-loop adaptive control strategies based on the mechanisms of neural circuit remodeling to promote brain function recovery in patients.
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Gao ZR#, Pang Z#, Lei GW#, Chen YM#, Cai ZY, Zhu S, Lin W, Wang YZ, Qiu ZL, Shen YD*, Xu WD*. (2022) Crossing nerve transfer drives sensory input-dependent plasticity for motor recovery after brain injury. Science Advances. 2022 Sep 2;8(35): eabn5899.
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Gao ZR#, Pang Z#, Chen YM, Lei GW, Zhu S, Li GT, Liu C, Shen YD, Li Y*, Xu WD*. (2022) Restoring motor function after CNS injuries: the neural mechanisms and translational applications of motor recovery. Neuroscience Bulletin. 2022 Dec;38(12):1569-1587.
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Gao ZR#; Chen WZ#; Liu MZ#; Chen XJ; Wan L; Zhang XY; Yuan L; Lin JK; Wang M; Zhou L; Xu XH; Sun YG*. Tac1-expressing neurons in the periaqueductal gray facilitate the itch-scratching cycle via descending regulation, Neuron, 2019, 1(01): 45~59.