Prof. Dan-Dan Wang

Principal Investigator

Research Directions
Pathological mechanisms and intervention strategies of neurodegenerative diseases
Contact  Information
Address: Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, China, 200032
Email：dandanwang@fudan.edu.cn

Dr. Dandan Wang received his Ph.D. from Fudan University in 2015. From 2015 to 2020, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Scripps Research Institute. Between 2020 and 2021, he served as a Research Scientist at the Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, USA. In 2021, he joined the Institute of Brain Science at Fudan University, where he focuses on target discovery and translational intervention research for neurological disorders. His major research findings have been published in academic journals such as Science and Nature Neuroscience. He was awarded by national and Shanghai Program for High-Level Overseas Talents and the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning. 

Enrollment Major
Neurobiology

Research Work

（1） Aberrant modification, aggregation, and clearance of core pathological proteins (Tau, Aβ, α-syn, etc.)

（2） Target discovery and pharmacological research based on nervous system GPCRs

Neurological disorders, particularly neurodegenerative diseases, are rapidly increasing in prevalence among modern populations. However, drug development for the central nervous system remains challenging, leaving a vast unmet clinical need. Our research group is dedicated to integrating multi-level models—including C. elegans, cell cultures, and mice—and employing interdisciplinary approaches such as high-throughput screening, multi-omics analysis, behavioral pharmacology, and population cohort studies. We aim to investigate the complex etiology and pathology of neurological disorders while developing novel drug targets and intervention strategies. Previously, we identified two innovative drug targets that enhance the efficacy and safety of opioid analgesics, which have since been licensed to a U.S.-based drug development company.

Selected Publications

1. Xu Y, Li S, Xu Y, Sun X, Wei Y, Wang Y, Li S, Ji Y, Hu K, Xu Y*, Zhu C*, Lu B*, Wang D*(2025). Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split- fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensor. J Lipid Res. 19:100781

2. Maza N#, Wang D#, Kowalski C, Stoveken HM, Dao M, Sial OK, Giles AC, Grill B*, Martemyanov KA*(2022). Ptchd1 mediates opioid tolerance via cholesterol-dependent effects on μ-opioid receptor trafficking. Nat Neurosci. 25(9):1179-1190

3. Wang D, Dao M, Muntean BS, Giles AC, Martemyanov KA*, Grill B*(2022). Genetic modeling of GNAO1 disorder delineates mechanisms of Gαo dysfunction. Hum Mol Genet. 31(4):510-522

4. Wang D, Stoveken HM, Zucca S, Dao M, Orlandi C, Song C, Masuho I, Johnston C, Opperman KJ, Giles AC, Gill MS, Lundquist EA, Grill B*, Martemyanov KA*(2019). Genetic behavioral screen identifies an orphan anti-opioid system. Science. 365(6459): 1267-1273

5. Shan Y#, Wang D#, Xu Y, Wang C, Cao L, Liu Y, Zhu C*(2016). Aging as a Precipitating Factor in Chronic Restraint Stress-Induced Tau Aggregation Pathology, and the Protective Effects of Rosmarinic Acid. J Alzheimers Dis. 49(3):829-844