Prof. Dr. JIN WANG | Neuronal Cell Biology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. JIN WANG , University of Chinese Academy of Science , United States

Dr. Jinhui Wang is a distinguished professor of neuroscience at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, based in Beijing, China. With over three decades of research experience, he is recognized internationally for his pioneering work on synaptic plasticity, memory formation, and neural signaling pathways. Dr. Wang has published extensively in top-tier journals, such as Neuron, Journal of Neuroscience, and PNAS, with numerous first or corresponding author papers. His research combines electrophysiology, molecular biology, and behavioral neuroscience to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning, memory, and neuropsychiatric disorders. His recent studies explore neuroligin-3-mediated synapse formation and the neural circuitry of depression and anxiety, bridging the gap between basic science and clinical neuroscience. With significant contributions to neuroscience and mentorship of emerging researchers, Dr. Wang is a leading candidate for recognition such as the Best Researcher Award.

Publication Profile: 

Scopus

✅ Strengths for the Award:

1. 📚 Prolific Research Output

   • Authored and/or led over 20 high-impact peer-reviewed publications.

   • First or corresponding author on seminal papers in Neuron, PNAS, Journal of Neuroscience, and Journal of Physiology.

2. 🔬 Pioneering Scientific Contributions

   • Made foundational discoveries in long-term potentiation (LTP), synaptic plasticity, and memory circuits.

   • One of the early researchers to uncover postsynaptic Ca²⁺/CaM pathways in hippocampal neurons.

3. 🎓 Academic Leadership & Mentorship

   • Serves as a Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

   • Actively mentors emerging scientists and leads multidisciplinary research teams.

4. 🌍 Translational and Interdisciplinary Focus

   • Recent research integrates molecular neuroscience with behavioral psychiatry—exploring the molecular basis of depression, stress resilience, and social interactions.

   • Investigates neuroligin-3-mediated synapse formation, crucial for associative memory and emotional processing.

5. 📈 Continued Scientific Impact

   • Maintains steady scholarly output in internationally indexed journals (2020–2024).

   • Contributes to both basic and applied neuroscience—bridging lab findings with potential clinical insights.

⚙️ Areas for Improvement:

1. 🌐 Global Collaborations

   • While highly recognized within China, broader international collaborations (e.g., Europe, US, Japan) could further amplify impact.

2. 💻 Emerging Tech Integration

   • Integration of AI/neuroinformatics, optogenetics, or connectomics tools would add cutting-edge dimensions to research.

3. 🏅 Public Visibility and Science Communication

   • Greater participation in global science events and public-facing outreach could expand the societal impact of his research.

🎓 Education (150 words)

Dr. Jinhui Wang earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from a leading Chinese university, following rigorous training in cellular neurophysiology and biochemistry. Early in his academic career, he was mentored by prominent neuroscientists, including De-Pei Feng, and later conducted postdoctoral research with Paul Kelly and Armin Stelzer, where he explored the role of protein kinases and phosphatases in long-term potentiation (LTP). His foundational training provided a deep understanding of intracellular calcium signaling, synaptic modulation, and memory encoding mechanisms, which became the core of his lifelong research. Dr. Wang’s multidisciplinary education integrates molecular biology, cognitive neuroscience, and pharmacology, equipping him to conduct complex, integrative studies in modern neuroscience. This solid academic background laid the groundwork for his prolific contributions to understanding synaptic plasticity and neuropsychiatric mechanisms.

🧠 Experience (150 words)

With more than 30 years of experience in neuroscience research, Dr. Wang has served in prominent academic and research institutions across China and abroad. He is currently a Distinguished Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he leads a multidisciplinary neuroscience lab focused on synaptic mechanisms of memory and mental health disorders. His experience spans electrophysiological recordings, synaptic signaling, and behavioral neuroscience, with a notable emphasis on how protein kinases, phosphatases, and calcium signaling contribute to long-term potentiation and neuronal plasticity. He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdocs, significantly contributing to the field’s next generation of neuroscientists. His collaborations with international researchers and consistent publication in high-impact journals highlight his active engagement with the global scientific community. Dr. Wang’s hands-on leadership in complex neuroscience projects positions him as a respected and impactful figure in his field.

🏅 Awards and Honors (150 words)

Dr. Jinhui Wang has received multiple accolades for his outstanding contributions to neuroscience. These honors include National Science and Technology Progress Awards, Outstanding Researcher Awards from leading Chinese institutions, and several Best Paper Awards for his pioneering studies in synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission. He has been invited to speak at prestigious conferences such as the Society for Neuroscience and the Chinese Neuroscience Society, acknowledging his role as a thought leader in memory and learning research. Additionally, Dr. Wang is frequently invited to review for top journals including Neuron, Journal of Neuroscience, and Brain Research. His groundbreaking research on neuroligin-3 and associative memory circuits has also attracted international recognition, positioning him as a global influencer in the field of neural circuit dynamics and neuropsychiatric disease mechanisms.

🔬 Research Focus (150 words)

Dr. Wang’s research centers on synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, and neuropsychiatric disorders. His early work revealed the critical roles of protein kinase C, calcineurin, and Ca2+/CaM-dependent signaling in hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), laying the foundation for our understanding of postsynaptic mechanisms of learning. More recently, his lab focuses on neuroligin-3-mediated synaptogenesis and its role in encoding associative memory, exploring how these cellular processes contribute to emotional regulation, fear, and anxiety. Dr. Wang uses a combination of electrophysiology, molecular profiling (mRNA/miRNA), and behavioral models to investigate brain functions in both health and disease. His latest research also investigates how environmental and social factors, like housing and companionship, influence depression resilience through molecular changes in regions like the nucleus accumbens and amygdala. His integrated approach contributes significantly to the translational understanding of psychiatric illnesses.

📚 Publications (One-line Titles with Emojis)

1. 🧠 Postsynaptic protein kinase C essential to both induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 region – PNAS, 1992

2. 🧪 Inhibition of phosphatase 2B prevents expression of hippocampal long-term potentiation – NeuroReport, 1994

3. 🔬 Postsynaptic injection of Ca2+/CaM induces synaptic potentiation requiring CaM-KII and PKC activity – Neuron, 1995

4. 🧬 Shared calcium signaling pathways in LTP and synaptic disinhibition in CA1 dendrites – Journal of Neurophysiology, 1996

5. ⚡ Regulation of synaptic facilitation by postsynaptic Ca2+-CaM in hippocampal CA1 neurons – Journal of Neurophysiology, 1996

6. 🧠 Balance of postsynaptic protein kinases and phosphatases controls synaptic strength – Learning & Memory, 1996

7. 💡 Calcineurin activity down-regulates synaptic transmission in hippocampal CA1 neurons – Journal of Neuroscience, 1997

8. 🎯 Paired-pulse facilitation attenuation by postsynaptic mechanisms during synaptic potentiation – Journal of Neurophysiology, 1997

9. 🧩 Cellular and molecular bases of memory: synaptic and neuronal plasticity – Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 1997

10. 🔗 Ca2+/CaM pathway enhances glutamatergic function in fast-spiking interneurons – Journal of Physiology (London), 2001

🧾 Conclusion:

Prof. Jinhui Wang is a highly distinguished neuroscientist with an exceptional track record of innovation, scholarly leadership, and translational research. His pioneering discoveries on synaptic mechanisms and associative memory, coupled with sustained contributions to neuroscience, make him an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

His work addresses some of the most pressing questions in modern neuroscience—how memories form, how mental health is encoded in neural circuits, and how social factors influence brain function at the molecular level.