Yuan Wang Lab
Understanding neural circuit development in health and disease
We aim to explore the fundamental mechanisms that guide the development of a healthy brain. Our research involves determining how brain circuits assemble for their specialized functions and identifying the specific steps along this process that, when disrupted, lead to severe neurological disorders. Currently, we focus on three disease conditions: fragile X syndrome (FXS), which is a leading single-gene cause of autism and intellectual disability; fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder; and hearing loss, which is the most common birth defect among newborns and a common problem for older adults. We develop animal models to uncover underlying pathological mechanisms that are unique or common across these diseases.
Lab News
2025 November
Sima and Danah presented their research at SFN 2025. Great work representing the lab!
2025 April
Danah hosted a lab get-together this year.
2024 August
Danah and Sima presented posters at the retreat and also contributed to its management.
2024 April
Lab get-together at Yuan's House and a final goodbye to Mark and Brett, who will be leaving the lab to attend medical school the following academic year.
2024 February
Several new members joined the lab and Mark and Brett presented at the 20th annual BMS research fair. Sima and Danah also presented posters at the annual ARO (Association for Research in Otolaryngology) conference in Anaheim, California.
2023 August
Mark, Sima and Danah presented at the BMS retreat. Sima qualified as a University finalist for the 3-minute speech competition.
2023 July
Brett joined our lab as a full time technician. Previously, Brett conducted clinical research at UF, focusing on movement disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation.
2023 April
Jenna was awarded the Mae Hampton Watt Presidential Scholarship for Research and has been nominated by the Psychology department for the Marion Jewell Hay award.
2023 March
Melisa received FSU's IDEA Grant from the Center of Undergraduate Research for her exploration of Cell Filling techniques.
2023 February
Huimei Wang visited our lab from Ohio, teaching us electrophysiology techniques and in return, we taught her about plasmid injection and different staining protocols.
2023 February
Danah and Mark presented their current projects at Biomedical Sciences Annual Research Fair. Mark's presented on Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Brain Development and Danah presented on Calretinin-expressing neurons as an underlying cell type in Fragile X Syndrome.
2022 December
Xiaoyan graduated from her PhD program in Neuroscience, following this she will complete her Post-Doc at the University of Pennsylvania
2022 August
Sima Sabbagh joined our lab and began her project focusing on alterations in synaptic development in Fragile X Syndrome, using a chicken model.
2022 July
Check out our new publication in the JoVE (see Publication)! This is in collaboration with Dr. Xiaoyu Wang (Jinan Univ.). Enjoy the amazing images taken from genetically manipulated neurons.
2022 May We published a review article in Cells titled: Novel animal models for understanding FMRP function and FXS pathology. (see Publication)
2022 May
We received an MDS grant from FSU the Council on Research & Creativity to develop a mouse model of prenatal alcohol exposure to study Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, in collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Steiner (College of Health and Human Sciences).
2022 April
Fun at the lab picnic.
2021 October Xiaoyan received Trainee Professional Development Award from Society for neuroscience.
2021 September
We received a 5-year R01 research grant from NIH to support our research on the emergency of synaptic deficits in FXS (a neurodevelopmental disorder).
2021 January
Xiaoyan received ARO MidWinter Meeting Travel Award from the Association for Research in Otolaryngology.
2019 August
Dr. Xiaoyu Wang completed her post-doctoral training and became an independent scientist at Jinan University.
2019 September
Xiaoyan received Bryan Robinson Endowment Grant Honorable Mention by Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Foundation.
2019 January
Xiaoyan received ARO MidWinter Meeting Travel Award from the Association for Research in Otolaryngology.