Zhong,Yi
Professor, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University
Director, McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Yangtze River Scholars” Professor
China’s Thousand Talent Program
Resume
2001-present Professor, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
2004-2015 Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Cold Spring Harbor. USA.
1998-2004 Associate Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Cold Spring Harbor. USA.
1995-1998 Senior Staff Investigator, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Cold Spring Harbor. USA.
1992-1995 Staff Investigator, Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Cold Spring Harbor, USA.
1985-1991 PhD., Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
1982-1984 M.S., Department of Biotechnology and Biological Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
1978-1982 B.S., Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

Research Focus
Learning and memory are the basis of advanced cognitive function. We utilize classical genetics and two-photon imaging to study the neural basis of learning, memory and forgetting, using Drosophila as a model organism. Active forgetting was first reported in our lab, and we will further study the neural circuit of forgetting. Lots of neurogenetic diseases including Alzheimer's disease, autism and schizophrenia exhibit cognitive dysfunction. So we also buildup Drosophila disease models to explore the molecular mechanisms of human neurogenetic diseases basing on molecular biology, genetics, and electrophysiology, and we also expect to screen drugs which can improve patients’ cognitive function.

1.    Molecular mechanisms and neural circuits of learning, memory and forgetting.
2.    The relationship between LTP/LTD and neurogenetic diseases.
3.    Molecular mechanisms of human neurogenetic diseases and screening of gene targets and drugs.

Selected Publications

1 Dong, T., He, J., Wang, S., Wang, L., Cheng, Y., and Zhong, Y. (2016). Inability to activate Rac1-dependent forgetting contributes to behavioral inflexibility in mutants of multiple autism-risk genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113, 7644-7649.
2 Li, Q., Zhang, X., Hu, W., Liang, X., Zhang, F., Wang, L., Liu, Z.J., and Zhong, Y. (2016). Importin-7 mediates memory consolidation through regulation of nuclear translocation of training-activated MAPK in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113, 3072-3077.
3 Shuai, Y., Hirokawa, A., Ai, Y., Zhang, M., Li, W., and Zhong, Y. (2015). Dissecting neural pathways for forgetting in Drosophila olfactory aversive memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112, E6663-6672.
4 Wang, L., Chiang, H.C., Wu, W., Liang, B., Xie, Z., Yao, X., Ma, W., Du, S., and Zhong, Y. (2012). Epidermal growth factor receptor is a preferred target for treating amyloid-beta-induced memory loss. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109, 16743-16748.
5 Huang, C., Zheng, X., Zhao, H., Li, M., Wang, P., Xie, Z., Wang, L., and Zhong, Y. (2012). A permissive role of mushroom body alpha/beta core neurons in long-term memory consolidation in Drosophila. Curr Biol 22, 1981-1989.
6 Shao, L., Shuai, Y., Wang, J., Feng, S., Lu, B., Li, Z., Zhao, Y., Wang, L., and Zhong, Y. (2011). Schizophrenia susceptibility gene dysbindin regulates glutamatergic and dopaminergic functions via distinctive mechanisms in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108, 18831-18836.
7 Shuai, Y.C., Lu, B.Y., Hu, Y., Wang, L.Z., Sun, K., and Zhong, Y. (2010). Forgetting Is Regulated through Rac Activity in Drosophila. Cell 140, 579-589.
8 Pagani, M.R., Oishi, K., Gelb, B.D., and Zhong, Y. (2009). The Phosphatase SHP2 Regulates the Spacing Effect for Long-Term Memory Induction. Cell 139, 186-198.