Shuai Wang

My Research:

I am a postdoc at Tom Südhof lab at Stanford, working on the protein-protein interactions to build the brain circuit at the synaptic level (CV, google scholar).

My recent work described how to establish a synapse (CA3-CA1 Synapse, Figure 1) in the brain for the first time at the level of protein-protein interactions (Figure 2). Previously, my Ph.D. work in Shu-ou Shan lab at Caltech described a novel pathway for co-translational membrane protein transport (Figure 3).

My Philosophy:

The pursuit of understanding in science comes with different levels. Correlation studies identify possible players associated with a process. Perturbation experiments provide evidence for the causal roles of the candidate players. Reconstitution approaches test the minimal players sufficient to drive a process. Scientific findings often must withstand the test of ‘correlation-perturbation-reconstitution’ cycle to produce lasting impact.

I focus on understanding protein-protein interactions to solve biological puzzles. When appropriate, I combine multiple approaches including biochemical reconstitution, genetic perturbation, mouse brain circuit tracing, neuron functional measurements, and bioinformatic analyses. When necessary, I develop new tools to address the need of science.

My long-term vision is to leverage deep mechanistic understanding of neuronal connections to repair the lost neuronal connections in neurodegeneration, and to restore the dysfunctional synaptic strength in brain disorders.