课题组主要研究神经系统的疾病机制。选择具有简洁清晰的神经系统、丰富的行为表型和便于遗传操作的优良模式动物建立相应的疾病模型和行为范式，利用多学科交叉的非侵入性技术手段，建立微观的分子/细胞水平和宏观的功能/行为之间的联系、在神经环路层面系统解析感觉传导的分子与细胞神经机制、信息的整合与提取以及环路的发育和功能异常，研究神经系统疾病（疼痛、帕金森）和功能（睡眠、记忆的跨代遗传等）的机制。

        课题组近年在表观遗传因子调控神经环路的可塑性与神经系统疾病和功能的研究中取得了一定的进展，发现了表观遗传调控神经系统高级功能 (学习记忆、成瘾等) 的新机制。主持科技部重点研发项目子课题、国家自然科学基金面上项目、基础研究能力提升计划高层次人才科研项目、美国心脏学会博士后基金等项目。

1. Representative Publications

2. 1. Wei Li, Zhaoyang Feng, Paul W. Sternberg and X. Z. Shawn Xu. (2006) A C. elegans stretch receptor neuron revealed by a mechanosensitive TRP channel homologue. Nature. 440:684-7.

2. ·      Commented on bythe review article “Proprioception: achannel for body sense in the worm.” in Current Biology (16,R509-11)

   ·      Selected as a Must-Read by Facultyof 1000.

3. 2. Zhaoyang Feng*, Wei Li*, Alex Ward, Beverly J. Piggott, Erin R. Larkspur, Paul W. Sternberg, and X.Z. Shawn Xu. (2006) A C. elegans Model of Nicotine-Dependent Behavior: regulation by TRP-Family Channels. Cell. 127:621-33. (*co-first author)

4. ·       The New York Times published the article “Nematodes with acraving for nicotine” to highlight this work on the front page of itsscience edition on Nov 21, 2006

   ·       Previewed by the article “Wormsclear the smoke surrounding nicotine addiction” in Cell(127, 460-2).

   ·       Selected as a Must-Read by Faculty of 1000.

5. 3. Li, Wei, Gao, Shang-Bang,Lv, Cai-Xia,Wu, Ying,Guo, Zhao-Hua,Ding, Jiu-Ping,Xu, Tao,Characterization of voltage- and Ca2+ -  activated K+ channels in rat dorsal root ganglionneurons, Journal of Cellular Physiology,2007,212(2):348-357.

2. 4. Wei Li, Lijun Kang, Beverly J. Piggott, Zhaoyang Feng, X. Z. Shawn Xu. (2011) The neural circuits and sensory channels mediating harsh touch sensation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature Communications. 2:315

     ·       Highlighted by the report “Touchingon the mechanisms of pain” in theBiomedical Beat. (June 15,2011).

2. 5. Geng Zhu, Fen Zhang and Wei Li. Nematodes feel your craving-Using C. elegans as a model to study alcohol addiction. Neuroscience Bulletin. 2014, 30(4): 595–600. (*Corresponding author)
3. 6. Pan L, Xie W, Li KL, Yang Z, Xu J, Zhang W, Liu LP, Ren X, He Z, Wu J, Sun J, Wei HM, Wang D, Xie W, Li W, Ni JQ, Sun FL. (2015). Heterochromatin remodeling by CDK12 contributes to learning in Drosophila. PNAS. 2015 Nov 10;112(45):13988-93.
4. 7. Zhuoyu Zhang, Yijue Shen, Hang Luo, Fen Zhang, Dan Peng, Li Jing, Yuanyuan Wu, XiaofeiXia, Yunping Song, Wei Li*& Lingjing  Jin*. MANF protects dopamine neurons andlocomotion defects from a human α-synuclein induced Parkinson‘s disease model in C.  elegans by regulating ER stress and autophagy pathways. Experimental Neurology. 2018 Oct;308:59-71. (*Corresponding author)

    As a neuroscience lab, we are interested in identifying novel mechanisms that mediate neurological diseases. The advantage of carrying out these studies in the model system C. elegans is that this system is more amenable to various genetic and molecular genetic approaches than are more complex mammals, as well as has well-annotated neural circuits and cell lineages. Because the major neurotransmitters, sensory receptors and channels are evolutionarily conserved, we investigate the broader implications for human physiology and disease — including in transgenerational memory formation, pain and sleep disorders.

1、Neuronal signaling in sensory transduction.
2、Mechanisms of mechanosensation and pain.
3、Sleep-related genes and drugs screen.

4、Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of memory

中华全国青年联合会第十二届委员会委员

上海市青年联合会第十一届、十二届委员

上海市杨浦区青年联合会第十届常委

2015 Young leaders forum member by National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) （美中杰出青年论坛成员）

        我们欢迎有志于神经科学研究的本科生与研究生（脱产或在职）报考、实习和毕业设计，同时欢迎具有生物和医学（分子生物学、生物信息生物学、神经生物学、表观遗传）相关研究经历的副研究员，助理研究员、 博士后、科研助理加盟合作。

        应聘请发简历和个人材料至邮箱: liw@tongji.edu.cn