I. Laboratory Positioning

Research field: Developmental neurobiology and animal models of major neurological diseases. Research direction: Using fruit flies, non-human primates (macaques) and domestic dogs as experimental systems, through multidisciplinary research methods including gene editing, brain imaging and electrophysiological analysis, as well as behavioral and cognitive function analysis, we are dedicated to studying the development and functional regulation of neural synapses. We have discovered multiple new pathways and mechanisms that regulate synaptic development, as well as the molecular, cellular and neural circuit mechanisms of related major neurological diseases, especially autism.

II. Construction Goals

The laboratory focuses on the cutting-edge research both at home and abroad in developmental neurobiology and major neurological diseases, conducting fundamental and applied fundamental research to achieve a series of high-level, original and forward-looking research results. It also aims to introduce and cultivate senior scientific research talents, form an academic team with a reasonable structure, foster influential academic leaders, and give rise to a powerful research group in the relevant fields.

III. Team Members

The center now has a core research team integrating multiple disciplines, with a total of 6 researchers, all of whom are permanent staff. Professor Zhang Yongqing, the director, is a recipient of the National "Outstanding Youth" award. Meanwhile, the center will continue to recruit outstanding young scholars in related fields to form an interdisciplinary research team with backgrounds in chemistry, biology, medicine, electronic engineering, and other disciplines.

IV. Main Research Directions and Contents

Our team mainly integrates multiple disciplines such as genetics, gene editing, high-throughput animal behavior detection and screening, neural circuit tracing, bioinformatics, and proteomics to conduct in-depth research on the following scientific issues:

Studying the pathogenesis and intervention strategies of major brain diseases such as autism using domestic dogs as a model. Dogs, as a new generation of animal models for brain diseases, have unique advantages, including a high degree of similarity in social cognition, social behavior mechanisms, and brain region functions with humans. Compared to the macaque model, dogs have the characteristics of fast breeding speed and low cost. The team's work mainly focuses on three aspects:

By using advanced gene editing technology, mutant models of major brain diseases such as autism are constructed.

By integrating multiple technical approaches such as cognitive ability tests, face perception and processing techniques, in vivo calcium imaging, and functional magnetic resonance imaging in awake animals, and incorporating artificial intelligence, a new paradigm for phenotypic detection of the domestic dog model is designed and established.

3) In canine brain disease models at home, the effects of candidate drugs and physical interventions are studied. These interventions include the assessment of candidate drugs and small molecule compounds, as well as non-invasive transcranial brain stimulation, optogenetic analysis, and minimally invasive and invasive chemogenetic techniques, etc.

2. Studying the neural basis of behavior regulation and aging using model organisms such as fruit flies:

Approximately 75% of human disease genes have homologous genes in fruit flies. Fruit flies also possess conserved behaviors such as circadian rhythms, sleep, and learning and memory. The team will conduct research in the following areas:

Identify new genes and signaling pathways that regulate sleep and circadian rhythms, discover new targets for the control of sleep and rhythmic behaviors, and investigate the effects of sleep and biological clock disorders on metabolism and physiological functions as well as the corresponding coping mechanisms.

2) Analyze the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the maturation and aging of learning and memory abilities.

3) Explore the molecular regulatory mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders.

4) By using cell and animal models as well as patient samples, and through the integrated analysis of multi-omics data, etc., the pathogenesis of neurological diseases is revealed at the molecular and cellular levels, and potential drug targets and biomarkers are screened.