Wen-Jun Gao

Wen-Jun Gao, MD, PhD

Professor


Department: Neurobiology & Anatomy

Education

  • MD - Chongqing University of Medical Sciences
  • PhD - Shanghai Brain Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Wen-Jun Gao, MD, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy at Drexel University College of Medicine. Prior to coming to Drexel, he completed postdoctoral training with Sarah L. Pallas at Georgia State University and then with Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic and David A. McCormick at Yale University School of Medicine.

Research Overview

Areas of Research:

  • Functional plasticity in the juvenile and adolescent prefrontal cortex and cognitive functions associated with this cortical region
  • Cellular and synaptic mechanisms of neuronal network activity in the prefrontal cortex
  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying synaptic transmission and monoaminergic regulation of the prefrontal function
  • Neurobiology of psychiatric disorders associated with the prefrontal cortex and limbic systems, such as schizophrenia, autism and ADHD

Lab Personnel:

  • Graduate Students: Alexander Benson; Jake Clarin; Volodar Migovich
  • MD/PhD Student: Leigh Taylor Flynn
  • Drexel Student: Nadia Bouras

Visit the Gao Lab

Research Interests

Synaptic signaling in the prefrontal cortex: impact on cognition and social behaviors related to neurobiology of psychiatric disorders

Research

Research Summary

The cerebral cortex, especially the prefrontal cortex, is the most complex brain region in the central nervous system. Elucidating its diverse functions represents a major challenge in neurobiology. We are interested in the neuronal mechanisms underlying the synaptic signaling and monoaminergic regulation in the prefrontal cortical circuitry, as well as the critical issues involving neuropathology of mental disorders and other neurological diseases. Specifically, we are taking the advantages of in vivo and in vitro preparations to examine the neuronal signaling in both normal animals and clinical models of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and ADHD.

Work in the laboratory is currently focused in the following projects:

  1. Monoaminergic (dopamine and norepinephrine) regulation of synaptic transmissions and local circuitry in the prefrontal cortex
  2. How high-risk genes or epigenetic factors associated with schizophrenia affect the development of prefrontal cortex
  3. The roles of NMDA receptors in the schizophrenia pathological process
  4. Psychostimulant actions on the synaptic plasticity and trafficking of glutamatergic receptors.

Our research involves a variety of morphological, physiological, pharmacological, and molecular approaches designed to elucidate the synaptic mechanisms underlying the prefrontal functions. Morphological studies include single-cell labeling, neuronal reconstruction, and immunocytochemistry. Physiological, pharmacological and molecular approaches include multiple whole-cell patch clamp recordings, drug applications, western blotting, and real-time PCR in fresh brain tissues, acute brain slices, and cell culture preparations. These approaches are mutually supportive with a comprehensive integration across disciplines.

Selected Grants Funded

NIH R01MH085666 (Gao, PI)
Role of NMDA receptors in schizophrenia pathological processes

NIH R01MH101178 (Barry Waterhouse, PI; Gao, co-PI,)
Phenotypic diversity of neurons modulating executive function

NARSAD Independent Investigator Award, 2015 (Gao, PI)
Augmenting inhibition for cognitive function in schizophrenia

NIH R21MH110678-01 (Gao, PI)
Role of prefrontal cortical dopamine in aggression

Drexel Interdisciplinary Program Initiative/Pennsylvania Department of Health (Gao, PI; Barry Waterhouse, co-PI) CURE grant
Prefrontal cortical control of social behavior and aggression

Drexel Interdisciplinary Program Initiative/Pennsylvania Department of Health (Gao, co-PI; Denise Garcia, PI) CURE grant
The role of astrocytic Sonic hedgehog signaling in cortical circuit development

In the Media

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Announces Recent CURE Grant Recipients
(August 14, 2023)

"Inside the Brain: The Wiring of Addiction"
Exel, Drexel's Research Magazine (2014)

"Bad News For Ivy Leaguers: ADHD Drugs Hurt Your Memory"
Time, Examiner, Fox News (May 13, 2014)

"Taking 'Smart Drugs' Not Such a Bright Idea According to New Research"
College of Medicine Newsroom (May 13, 2014)

Publications

Selected/Recent Publications

“Genetic Diversity in Schizophrenia: Developmental Implications of Ultra-Rare, Protein-Truncating Mutations”
Clarin JD, Bouras NN, Gao WJ
Genes (Basel). 2024 Sep 17;15(9):1214. doi: 10.3390/genes15091214. PMID: 39336805; PMCID: PMC11431303

“Thalamic cells and pathway for social memory processing and storage”
Gao WJ
Neuron. 2024 Jul 17;112(14):2259-2261. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.06.023. PMID: 39024916

“Editorial: Horizons in Systems Neuroscience 2022”
Gao WJ, Gosseries O, Garraghty P, Diamond M, Sanchez-Vives MV
Front Syst Neurosci. 2024 May 9;18:1415569. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2024.1415569. PMID: 38784479; PMCID: PMC11112070

“The "psychiatric" neuron: the psychic neuron of the cerebral cortex, revisited”
Flynn LT, Bouras NN, Migovich VM, Clarin JD, Gao WJ
Front Hum Neurosci. 2024 Mar 18;18:1356674. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1356674. PMID: 38562227; PMCID: PMC10982399

“Prefrontal Regulation of Social Behavior and Related Deficits: Insights From Rodent Studies”
Mack NR, Bouras NN, Gao WJ
Biol Psychiatry. 2024 Jul 15;96(2):85-94. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.03.008. Epub 2024 Mar 13. PMID: 38490368

Additional publications...

Recent Reviews and Book Chapters

"Evolution of the Study of Methylphenidate and its Actions on the Adult versus Juvenile Brain"
Kimberly R. Urban and Wen-Jun Gao
Journal of Attention Disorders (in press, 2012)

"The unique properties of the prefrontal cortex and mental illness"
Wen-Jun Gao*, Huai-Xing Wang, Melissa A. Snyder, and Yan-Chun Li
In When Things Go Wrong – Diseases and Disorders of the Human Brain, edited by Theo Mantamadiotis, Intech Publisher (2012)

"GSK-3 and hyperdopaminergic behaviors"
Yan-Chun Li and Wen-Jun Gao
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 35:645-654 (2011)

"Experimental strategies for investigating drug actions in ADHD and related attention disorders"
Agster K, Clark B, Gao WJ, Shumsky J, Wang HX, Berridge C and Waterhouse B
Anatomical Record, 294:1698-1712 (invited review, 2011)

"Dopaminergic and Glutamatergic Dysfunctions in the Neuropathophysiology of Schizophrenia"
Gao WJ
In Dopamine: Functions, Regulation and Health Effects, edited by Endo Kudo and Yuriko Fujii. Nova Publishers (2011)


Contact Information


Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy
2900 W. Queen Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19129
Phone: 215.991.8907
Fax: 215.843.9082