Ph.D. Candidate, Class of 2024

I graduated from Hebei Medical University with a degree in Basic Medicine. During my undergraduate studies, my research internship focused on emotional respiratory regulation, and I participated in the national key project titled "Mechanisms of Respiratory Abnormalities Induced by Anxiety-like Behavior." This project centers on the neurobiological basis of respiratory changes induced by anxiety emotions and proposes for the first time that acute restraint stress models activate neurons in the central amygdala. By combining optogenetics with behavioral experiments and non-invasive volume plethysmography in small animals, I validated the role of the central amygdala in anxiety-like behaviors from multiple perspectives and explored how it induces respiratory changes through the regulation of the pre-Bötzinger complex, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the relationship between anxiety emotions and respiratory regulation.

For my graduation design project, I focused on "The Role of the Periventricular Nucleus in the Process of Extinction of Acute Stress-Related Anxiety-like Behaviors," investigating the neural circuit mechanisms of the periventricular nucleus in stress-related anxiety-like behaviors. Given that current clinical treatments for stress-related mental illnesses and their efficacy remain unsatisfactory, elucidating the brain mechanisms that trigger anxiety disorders due to stress is expected to provide potential directions for new treatment strategies.

CIMR features a multidisciplinary modern medical research system dedicated to establishing a goal-oriented research model centered on medicine, promoting the translation of basic research into clinical medical results. Collaborations with various hospitals allow research to be more closely aligned with clinical needs, facilitating the rapid translation of research outcomes, while a new management and research model lays the foundation for the center's long-term development.

I have a keen interest in the field of neurobiology. With the increasing social pressures, emotional problems are becoming more common, and neurobiology provides a foundation for understanding both animal and human behaviors. By studying how the nervous system affects emotions, learning, memory, and decision-making, we can delve into complex biological behaviors. Furthermore, understanding the mechanisms of neurobiology aids in the development of drugs for mental illnesses and offers theoretical support for addressing issues such as addiction, mental disorders, and social behavior abnormalities.

Currently, the diagnosis of various emotional disorders primarily relies on scale assessments, with few laboratory diagnostic methods available. Therefore, I hope to analyze neural network activities related to emotional disorders to identify potential biological markers for early diagnosis, predicting disease progression, and assessing treatment effectiveness. Additionally, in-depth research on neural networks can reveal differences in emotional responses and manifestations of emotional disorders among individuals, which is crucial for personalized medicine and precision treatment.

Through continuous research training, I aspire to achieve significant accomplishments in my chosen field, publish high-impact papers, and establish a reputation in academia and industry. I aim to combine interdisciplinary knowledge and methods to tackle complex scientific problems and drive research innovation. Most importantly, I will maintain a curiosity for new knowledge and technologies, embrace challenges, and continuously learn and improve to adapt to the rapidly evolving scientific landscape.