Yang Yang

Title:

Associate Professor

PhD Granting Institution:

Georgia State University

Contact:

Email Address: yangyang@purdue.edu
Office Phone: 765-494-2926
Lab Website Link: https://www.yangyanglab.org/

Primary Training Group:

Integrative Neuroscience

Secondary Training Groups:

Biotechnology, Computational and Systems Biology

Research Areas:

Y-lab studies genetic neurological diseases including autism, epilepsy, pain, and dementia with both mouse models and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived neuron and brain organoid models. Using state-of-the-art technologies (brain slice and in vivo electrophysiology recordings, multi-electrode array recordings, in vivo calcium imaging of freely moving animals, single-cell RNA-sequencing, cleared 3D brain imaging, CRISPR-mediated genome-editing among others), Y-lab aims to understand disease mechanisms underlying these neurological diseases, and to advance pharmacogenomic approaches for disease intervention.

Current Projects:

One main focus of the lab is on disorders related to SCN2A genetic variants, recently discovered as a leading monogenic cause of autism and epilepsy. SCN2A gene encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.2, mediating neuronal action potential firing in the central nervous system. We use mouse models and Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) derived neuron, microglia, and brain organoid models for disease modeling and identifying disease mechanisms. We also develop next-generation therapeutics to tackle the disorders with the ultimate goal of treating patients.

Importance of Interdisciplinary Research:

We welcome students with diverse backgrounds including but not limited to molecular biology, cellular biology, systems biology, imaging, animal studies, as well as coding and programming.