A/Prof. Zhe-Jun Xu

Research Direction
Neurodevelopment and Developmental Brain Disorders
Contact Information
Address: Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 131 Dong An Rd, Shanghai China 200032  
Email：xu_zhejun@fudan.edu.cn

Zhejun Xu is currently a Young associated professor at the Institutes of Brain Science (IOBS), Fudan University. He has received his Ph.D. degree in Neurobiology from Fudan University in 2018. From 2018 to 2024, he worked as a postdoc in the Institutes of Brain Science (IOBS) at Fudan University, after that he joined the institute of brain science at Fudan University as a young associated professor. His work has been published on Science Advances, Development, Cell death & Disease and other peer-reviewed scientific journals. 

The development of the nervous system forms the foundation for understanding animal cognition and behavior, making it a central focus and ultimate goal of neuroscience research. Deciphering this intricate process is crucial not only for unraveling the mysteries of brain function but also for developing effective therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders. Leveraging a multidisciplinary approach that integrates genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, and neurobiology, we delve deeply into the mechanisms underlying the development and operation of the mammalian brain. Our work focuses on the production, proliferation, differentiation, and migration of neural stem cells; the establishment and function of neural circuits; and the neural basis of behavior. By bridging fundamental neuroscience with disease research, we aim to identify novel intervention targets and therapeutic strategies, offering scientific hope to patients affected by brain disorders.

Selected Publications

1. Sun MG#, Gao YJ#, Li ZMY, Yang L, Liu GP, Xu ZJ, Guo RL, You Y, Yang Z*(2024). ERK signaling expands mammalian cortical radial glial cells and extends the neurogenic period. P Natl Acad Sci USA. 121(13): e2314802121

2. Guo RL#, Han DY#, Song XR#, Gao YJ, Li ZMY, Li XS, Yang ZG, Xu ZJ*(2023). Context-dependent regulation of Notch signaling in glial development and tumorigenesis. Sci Adv. 9(45): eadi2167

3. Li ZMY#, Shang ZC#, Sun MG, Jiang X, Tian Y, Yang L, Wang ZW, Su ZH, Liu GP, Li XS, You Y, Yang ZA, Xu ZJ*, Zhang ZZ*(2022). Transcription factor Sp9 is a negative regulator of D1-type MSN development. Cell Death Discov. 8(1): 301

4. Song XL#, Chen HT#, Shang ZC, Du H, Li ZMY, Wen Y, Liu GP, Qi DS, You Y, Yang ZG, Zhang ZZ*, Xu ZJ*(2021). Homeobox Gene Six3 is Required for the Differentiation of D2-Type Medium Spiny Neurons. Neurosci Bull. 37(7):985-998

5. Yang L, Su ZH, Wang ZW, Li ZMY, Shang ZC, Du H, Liu GP, Qi DS, Yang ZG, Xu ZJ*, Zhang ZZ*(2021). Transcriptional profiling reveals the transcription factor networks regulating the survival of striatal neurons. Cell Death Dis. 12(3): 262