Prof. Dan-Dan Wang

Principal Investigator

Research Directions
GPCR signaling network in the nervous system and drug target discovery 
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 B.S. degree from China Pharmaceutical University in 2010 and his Ph.D. degree from Fudan University in 2015. From 2015 to 2021, he was a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Neuroscience at Scripps Research and the Center for Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Children’s. He joined the Institute of Brain Science at Fudan University in 2021as a principal investigator. He was awarded by Shanghai Program for High-Level Overseas Talents and the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning. His work has been published on Science, Human Molecular Genetics, Development, Neurology of Aging, and other peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Enrollment Major
Neurobiology

Research Work

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest protein family that mediates cell signal transduction in humans. The brain expresses the most types and highest abundance of GPCR. GPCRs function in various physiology and pathology in the nervous system and serve as the most prominent drug targets of brain disorders. GPCR signaling network is composed of complex signal transductions and regulations, leaving many critical questions such as orphan receptors and regulatory mechanisms unknown. Therefore, the systemic and in-depth dissection of GPCR signaling network will facilitate breakthroughs in fundamental and translational research. My lab deploys multilevel research models (C. elegans, cell, and rodents) and cross-disciplinary technologies (genetics, genomics, pharmacology, and ethology) to interrogate the complexity of GPCR signaling in the nervous system. We aim to uncover the dark biology of GPCR signaling networks and build up the pipelines that cover innovative discover and translational research. Our long-term goal is to accumulate the druggable targets and illuminate their potentials, which will have far-reaching impacts on the therapeutics of brain disorders.

Selected Publications

1. Wang D, Dao M, Muntean BS, Giles AC, Martemyanov KA*, Grill B* (2021). Genetic modeling of GNAO1 disorder delineates mechanisms of Gαo dysfunction. Human Molecular Genetics. in press

2. 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 

3. Borgen MA, Wang D, Grill B* (2017). RPM-1 regulates axon termination by affecting growth cone collapse and microtubule stability. Development. 144(24):4658-4672 

4. 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):829-44

5. Xu Y#, Wang D#, Luo Y, Li W, Shan Y, Tan X, Zhu C*(2015). Beta amyloid-induced upregulation of death receptor 6 accelerates the toxic effect of N-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein. Neurobiology of Aging. 36(1):157-68(#Contributed equally)