2009 - 2012  Associate Specialist, and Assistant Professor (Research), UCSF, University of California, at San Francisco

2012 -           Professor, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

My lab is interested in the function and regulation of neural stem cells in the mammalian brains. More specifically we are working on:

1. Neural stem cell subtypes.

2. Niches and neural differentiation of neural stem cell.

3. Modeling human brain developmental diseases with pluripotent stem cells and in animal models.

4. Cellular mechanism regulating neuronal stem cell fate and circuits formation during the development of cerebral cortex.

5. Molecular regulations of nervous system diseases, including lisencephaly, microcephaly, autism, depression and neurodegenerative diseases.

1. Zhong S, Ding W, Sun L, Lu Y, Dong H, Fan X, Liu Z, Chen R, Zhang S, Ma Q, Tang F, Wu Q*, Wang X*. Decoding the development of human hippocampus. Nature. 2020; 577(7791): 531-536. (*Corresponding Author)

2. Zhou X, Zhong S, Peng H, Liu J, Ding W, Sun L, Ma Q, Liu Z, Chen R, Wu Q, Wang X*. Cellular and molecular properties of neural progenitors in the developing mammalian hypothalamus. Nat Communications. 2020 Aug 13;11(1):4063. (*Corresponding Author)

3. Shi Y, Sun L, Wang M, Liu J, Zhong S, Li R, Li P, Guo L, Fang A, Chen R, Ge WP, Wu Q*, Wang X*. Vascularized human cortical organoids (vOrganoid) model cortical development in vivo. Plos Biology. 2020; May 13;18(5). (*Corresponding Author)

4. Lu Y, Shiau F, Yi W, Lu S, Wu Q, Pearson JD, Kallman A, Zhong S, Hoang T, Zuo Z, Zhao F, Zhang M, Tsai N, Zhuo Y, He S, Zhang J, Stein-O'Brien GL, Sherman TD, Duan X, Fertig EJ, Goff LA, Zack DJ, Handa JT, Xue T*, Bremner R,*, Blackshaw S*, Wang X*, Clark BS*. Single-cell analysis of human retina identifies evolutionarily conserved and species specific mechanisms controlling development. Developmental Cell. 2020; May 18;53(4):473-491. (*Corresponding Author)

5. Yin C, Zhou X, Wang W, Yao Y, Wu Q* and Wang X*. Abundant self-amplifying intermediate progenitors in the subventricular zone of the Chinese tree shrew neocortex. Cerebral Cortex. 2020 May 14;30(5):3370-3380. (*Corresponding Author)

6. Yi W, Lu Y, Zhong S, Zhang M, Sun L, Dong H, Wang M, Wei M, Xie H, Qu H, Peng R, Hong J, Yao Z, Tong Y, Wang W, Ma Q, Liu Z, Ma Y, Li S, Yin C, Liu J, Ma C, Wang X*, Wu Q*, Xue T*. A single-cell transcriptome atlas of the aging human and macaque retina. National Science Review, 2020 August 25. nwaa179. (*Corresponding Author)

7. Fan X, Fu Y, Zhou X, Sun L, Yang M, Wang M, Chen R, Wu Q, Yong J, Dong J, Wen L, Qiao J*, Wang X*, Tang F*. Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals cell lineage specification in temporal spatial patterns in human cortical development. Science Advances, 2020 Aug 21;6(34):eaaz2978. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz2978. (*Corresponding Author)

8. Ding W, Zhang C, Wang B, Zhou X, Sun L, Zhong S, Liu J, Zhang J, Wang X*, Wu Q*. Loss of the centrosomal protein Cenpj leads to dysfunction of the hypothalamus and obesity in mice. Sci China Life Sci. 2020 Aug 13. doi: 10.1007/s11427-020-1767-5. (*Corresponding Author)

9. Sun L, Chen R, Li L, Yuan B, Song K, Pan N, Cheng T, Chang S, Lin K, He X, Wu Q, Xu F, Qiu Z*, Wang X*. Visualization and correction of social abnormalities-associated neural ensembles in adult MECP2 duplication mice. Science Bulletin. 2020 July 30; 65(14):1192-1202. (*Corresponding Author)

10. Liu J, Wang M, Sun L, Pan N, Zhang C, Zhang J, Zuo Z, He S, Wu Q*, Wang X*. Integrative Analysis of in Vivo Recording with Single-Cell RNA-seq Data Reveals Molecular Properties of Light-Sensitive Neurons in Mouse V1. Protein Cell. 2020 Jun; 11(6): 417-432. (*Corresponding Author)

11. Pan N, Fang A, Shen C, Sun L, Wu Q and Wang X*. Early Excitatory Activity-dependent Maturation of Somatostatin Interneurons in Cortical Layer 2/3 of Mice. Cerebral Cortex. 2019 Sep 13;29(10):4107-4118. (Corresponding Author)

12. Sun L*, Chen R, Bai Y, Li J, Wu Q*, Shen Q*, Wang X*. Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of Ebf2-EGFP-Expressing Cajal-Retzius Cells in Developing Mouse Neocortex. Cerebral Cortex. 2019 Sep. 29(9):3864-3878 (Corresponding Author)

13. Ding W, Wu Q, Sun L, Pan NC, Wang X*. Cenpj regulates cilia disassembly and neurogenesis in the developing mouse cortex. Journal of Neuroscience. 2019 Mar 13;39(11):1994-2010. (*Corresponding Author)

14. Tong DL, Chen RG, Lu YL, Li WK, Zhang YF, Lin JK, He LJ, Dang T, Shan SF, Xu XH, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Du YS, Zhou WH, Wang X*, Qiu Z*. The critical role of ASD-related gene CNTNAP3 in regulating synaptic development and social behavior in mice. Neurobiol Dis, 2019. 130: p. 104486. (*Corresponding Author)

15. Xie H, Zhang W, Zhang M, Akhtar T, Li W, Sun X, Zuo Z, Wei W, Fang X, Yao Z, Dong K, Zhong S, Liu Q, Shen Y, Wu Q, Wang X, Zhao H, Bao J, Qu K, TianXue. Chromatin accessibility analysis reveals regulatory dynamics of developing human retina and hiPSC-derived retinal organoids. Sci Adv. 2020;6(6):eaay5247.

16. Yu H, Zhao T, Liu S, Wu Q, Johnson O, Wu Z, Zhuang Z, Shi Y, Peng L, He R, Yang Y, Sun J, Wang X, Xu H, Zeng Z, Zou P, Lei X, Luo W, Li Y. MRGPRX4 is a bile acid receptor for human cholestatic itch. Elife. 2019 Sep 10;8. pii: e48431. doi: 10.7554/eLife.48431.

17. Yang Y, Chen R, Wu X, Zhao Y, Fan Y, Xiao Z, Han J, Sun L, Wang X, Dai J. Rapid and Efficient Conversion of Human Fibroblasts into Functional Neurons by Small Molecules. Stem Cell Reports. 2019 Nov 12;13(5):862-876.

18. Li A, Zalesky A, Yue W, Howes O, Yan H, Liu Y, Fan L, Whitaker KJ, Xu K, Rao G, Li J, Liu S, Wang M, Sun Y, Song M, Li P, Chen J, Chen Y, Wang H, Liu W, Li Z, Yang Y, Guo H, Wan P, Lv L, Lu L, Yan J, Song Y, Wang H, Zhang H, Wu H, Ning Y, Du Y, Cheng Y, Xu J, Xu X, Zhang D, Wang X, Jiang T, Liu B.A. Neuroimaging Biomarker for Striatal Dysfunction in Schizophrenia. Nature Medicine. 2020 Apr; 26(4):558-565.

19. Du R., Zhu X., Wu S., Zhang X., He Y., Zhang K., He X., Wang X., Sun Y., Wang Q., Zhang H., and Tian M., PET imaging of metabolic changes after neural stem cells and GABA progenitor cells transplantation in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging, 2019. 46(11): p. 2392-2397.

20. Zhang X, Liu Z, Liu X, Wang S, Zhang Y, He X, Sun S, Ma S, Shyh-Chang N, Liu F, Wang Q, Wang X, Liu L, Zhang W, Song M, Liu GH, Qu J, Telomere-dependent and telomere-independent roles of RAP1 in regulating human stem cell homeostasis. Protein Cell, 2019. 10(9): p. 649-667.

21. Fan X, Dong J, Zhong S, Wei Y, Wu Q, Yan L, Yong J, Sun L, Wang X, Zhao Y, Wang W, Yan J, Wang X*, Qiao J*, Tang F*. Spatial transcriptomic survey of human embryonic cerebral cortex by single-cell RNA-seq analysis. Cell Res. 2018 Jul; 28(7):730-745. (*Corresponding Author)

22. Zhong S, Zhang S, Fan X, Wu Q, Yan L, Dong J, Zhang H, Li L, Sun L, Pan N, Xu X, Tang F*, Zhang J*, Qiao J*, Wang X*. A single-cell RNA-seq survey of the developmental landscape of the human prefrontal cortex. Nature. 2018 Mar 14. doi: 10.1038/nature25980. (*Corresponding Author)

23. Shi Y, Li S, Wu Q, Sun L, Zhang J, Pan N, Wang Q, Bi Y, An J, Lu X, Gao GF*, Wang X*. Vertical Transmission of the Zika Virus Causes Neurological Disorders in Mouse Offspring. Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 23;8(1):3541. (*Corresponding Author)

24. Li R, Sun L, Fang A, Li P, Wu Q*, Wang X*. Recapitulating cortical development with organoid culture in vitro and modeling abnormal spindle-like (ASPM related primary) microcephaly disease. Protein Cell. 2017 Nov;8(11):823-833. (*Corresponding Author)

25. Liu J, Liu W, Yang L, Wu Q, Zhang H, Fang A, Li L, Xu X, Sun L, Zhang J*, Tang F* and Wang X*. Primate-specific gene TMEM14B promotes cortical expansion and folding. Cell Stem Cell. 2017 Nov 2;21(5):635-649. (*Corresponding Author)

26. Ju XC, Hou QQ, Sheng AL, Wu KY, Zhou Y, Jin Y, Wen T, Yang Z, Wang X, Luo ZG. The hominoid-specific gene TBC1D3 promotes generation of basal neural progenitors and induces cortical folding in mice. Elife. 2016 Aug 9;5.

27. Yuan Q, Deng KY, Sun L, Chi S, Yang Z, Wang J, Xin HB*, Wang X*, Ji G*. Calstabin 2: An important regulator for learning and memory in mice. Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 18; 6: 21087.(*Corresponding Author)

28. Wang Y, Wu Q, Yang P, Wang C, Liu J, Ding W, Liu W, Bai Y, Yang Y, Wang H, Gao S*, Wang X*. LSD1 co-repressor Rcor2 orchestrates neurogenesis in the developing mouse brain. Nature Communications. 2016 Jan 22; 7:10481. (*Corresponding Author)

29. Kou Z, Wu Q, Kou X, Yin C, Wang H, Zuo Z, Zhuo Y, Chen A, Gao S*, Wang X*. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering of the ferret. Cell Res. 2015 Dec; 25(12): 1372-5. (*Corresponding Author)

30. Zhao YG, Sun L, Miao G, Ji C, Zhao H, Sun H, Miao L, Yoshii SR, Mizushima N, Wang X, Zhang H. Autophagy. 2015; 11(6): 881-90.

31. Gertz CC, Lui JH, LaMonica BE, Wang X, Kriegstein AR. Diverse behaviors of outer radial glia in developing ferret and human cortex. J Neurosci. 2014 Feb 12;34(7):2559-70.

32. Wu Q, Liu J, Fang A, Li R, Bai Y, Kriegstein AR, Wang X. Chapter2: The Dynamics of Neuronal Migration, Cellular and Molecular Control of Neuronal Migration, 1^st Edition, 2014, Springer, ISBN 978-94-007-7687-6.

33. Wang X and KriegsteinA OSVZ Radial Glial Cells, Book Chapter, Neuroglia. 3^rd Edition. Oxford University Press.

34. Li R, Bai Y, Liu T, Wang X* and Wu Q*.Induced pluripotency and direct reprogramming: a new window for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Protein Cell. 2013 Jun; 4(6): 415-24. (*Corresponding Author)

35. Lamonic B, Liu J, Wang X & Kriegstein A. An updated perspective on human neurodevelopmental disease. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 2012 Oct; 22(5): 747-53. (Cover)

36. Wu Q* and Wang X*. Neuronal stem cells in the central nervous system and in human diseases. Protein Cell. 2012 Apr; 3(4): 262-70. (*Corresponding Author)

37. Wang X, Liu J & Kriegstein A. Orienting fate: spatial regulation of neurogenic divisions. Neuron. 2011 Oct. 20; 72(2): 191-3.

38. Wang X*, Tsai JW, LaMonica B, Kriegstein AR. A new subtype of cortical progenitor cell in the mouse embryonic neocortex. Nat Neurosci, 14, 555-561 (2011) (Cover; featured in News and Views)(* Corresponding Author)

39. Imai JH, Wang X, Shi SH. Kaede-Centrin1 Labeling of Mother and Daughter Centrosomes in Mammalian Neocortical Neural Progenitors. Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol. 2010 Oct; Chapter 5:Unit 5.

40. Wang X, Tsai JW, Imai JH, Lian WN, Vallee RB, Shi SH. Asymmetric segregation of mother and daughter centrosome in mammal neocortex. Nature. 2009 Oct 15; 461: 947-55. (Cover; Featured in News and Views).

41. Yu YC, Bultje RS, Wang X, Shi SH Specific synapses develop preferentially among sister excitatory neurons in the neocortex. Nature. 2009 Mar 26; 458: 501-4.

(From Xiaoqun Wang, September 30, 2020)