Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Chang Gung University Academic Capacity Ensemble

Research directions and laboratory features

Reprogramming Neural Plasticity: Mechanistic Links Between Regeneration, Degeneration, and Malignancy

Our lab investigates how neural cells alter their fate and function under physiological and pathological conditions. We focus on neural plasticity—the intrinsic capacity of neurons, glia, and stem-like progenitors to remodel their behavior and identity in response to environmental cues. This plasticity is essential for neural regeneration, enabling the restoration of cellular populations after injury; yet when dysregulated, it contributes to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, or drives malignant transformation in brain tumors like glioblastoma.

We aim to dissect the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern these divergent outcomes. By combining gene expression and metabolic profiling with live imaging and in vivo models, we study how neural cells reorganize their interactions and architecture during regeneration, degeneration, and tumor progression. In parallel, we apply AI-assisted imaging and data analytics to uncover hidden patterns within complex biological datasets, linking cellular plasticity to regenerative or pathological trajectories.

We invite students interested in interdisciplinary neuroscience to join our team. Through training that integrates molecular neurobiology, in vivo analysis, and computational tools, members will explore how neural plasticity shapes both recovery and disease—advancing strategies to enhance regeneration and mitigate neural pathology.

Publication

1.         Shen YJ, Huang YC, Cheng YC*. (2024 Dec). Advancements in Antioxidant-Based Therapeutics for Spinal Cord Injury: A Critical Review of Strategies and Combination Approaches. Antioxidants. 14(1), 17.

2.         Shen YJ, Chen HY, Chang CW, Huang YC, Cheng YC*. (online 2024 Sep; to be published 2025 Jan). Chemical modulation of Akt signaling enhances spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish. Brain Research. 1846, 149248.

3.         Chen HY, Huang YC, Yeh TH, Chang CW, Shen YJ, Chen YC, Sun MQ, Cheng YC*. (2024 Oct , online: 2024 Aug 9). Dtx2 deficiency induces ependymo-radial glial cell proliferation and improves spinal cord motor function recovery. Stem Cells and Development. 33(19-20):540-550.

4.         Shih HY, Chen HY, Huang YC, Yeh TH, Chen YC, Cheng YC*. (2023 Sep [online 2023 Jun]). Etv5a suppresses neural progenitor cell proliferation by inhibiting sox2 transcription. Stem Cells Dev, 32(17-18):524-538.

5.         Yeh TH, Liu HF, Chiu CC, Cheng ML, Huang GJ, Huang YC, Liu YC, Huang YZ, Lu CS, Chen YC, Chen HY, Cheng YC*. (2021 Sep). PLA2G6 mutations cause motor dysfunction phenotypes of young-onset dystonia-parkinsonism type 14 and can be relieved by DHA treatment in animal models. Exp Neurol. 11;346:113863.