Host: Prof. Dongmin Yin, East China Normal University
Abstract:
The brain and peripheral organs maintain a continuous, bidirectional dialogue essential for homeostasis. While sensory neurons relay visceral state to the brain, the brain integrates this information to issue top-down commands via the autonomic nervous system, regulating organ function and shaping behavior. Despite its importance, the cellular and circuit logic of this gut-brain communication remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the gut-associated nervous system, defining its cellular composition, circuit architecture, and neurophysiology. Our work reveals how these specific neural pathways orchestrate gut physiology and, consequently, animal behavior and emotional state.
Biography:
Dr. Jinfei Ni is a Principal Investigator at the Institute for Translational Brain Research, Fudan University. Dr. Ni obtained his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the School of Life Sciences at Fudan University in 2005. He earned an M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Connecticut (USA) in 2009, and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University (USA) in 2017. Following his doctoral studies, he conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School.
In March 2021, Dr. Ni joined the Institute for Translational Brain Research at Fudan University. His primary research focuses on enteric neurobiology and brain-gut neural connections, with an emphasis on elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying diseases of the intestinal and metabolic systems. He is a recipient of the National High-Level Overseas Youth Talent Program.
This event is open to the NYU Shanghai, East China Normal University, and Neuroscience community.