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BI Guoqiang

Dr. BI Guoqiang received his B.S. in physics from Peking University(1989),M.S. in physics from New York University(1991) and Ph.D. in biophysics fromUniversity of California at Berkeley(1996). He was postdoctoral fellow at University of California at San Diego (1996-2000). He was appointed as Assistant Professor at the Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2000, where he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. In 2007, he established the Laboratory of Neurophysicsthe University of Science and Technology of China. Dr. BI was recipient of Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences (2000), University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award (2006),National Outstanding Young Scientist Award (2007). He has served as Chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics at USTC, and founding co-Director of the Center for Integrative Imaging at Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale.He is also Council Member of the Biophysical Society of China(BSC) and the Chinese Neuroscience Society(CNS), and Executivemember of Biomedical Photonics Committee of the Chinese Optical Society.He was the chief scientist of the 973 project “Neural Developmental Basis of Depression and Alzheimer‘s Disease”,headof the “Key Technology” project in the CAS Strategic Priority Research Program“Mapping of Brain Functional Connectivity”,and head of the MOST Innovation Team “Neural Circuitry Basis of Brain Diseases”.

    Research Interest

    We are interested in understanding the biophysical rules and mechanisms underlying the structure, dynamics and functioning of neuronal synapses and circuits. Towards this goal, we also develop cutting-edge photonics and imaging tools.

    Precision dissection of neuronal synapses and circuits.

    Higher brain functions are carried out by precise circuits formed by myriad neurons and their synaptic connections; the enormous complexity within is the fundamentalchallengetoour understandingof the operational principle of the brain. Using combined approaches of electrophysiology, optical imagingand electron microscopy, we attempt to dissectthe ultrastructure and molecular organization of neuronal synapses, and to map the precise connectivity of brain circuits, and as such to provide insights for next generation brain-like computing.

    Synaptic plasticity and dynamics of neuronal networks.

    Synaptic plasticity (such as STDP and homeostatic plasticity) interacts with electric activity in a neuronal network, driving the emergence of complex but ordered dynamic systems. We employ patch-clamp, multielectrode array and high-speed fluorescence imaging to explore the dynamic properties of synaptic plasticity and network dynamics in cultured neurons. At the systems level, we combine automated behavioral testing, opto- and chemogenetic manipulation, as well as viral tracing and whole brain imaging approaches to investigate circuit basis of learning memory function and related disorders.

    Neural circuit techniques.

    Through interdisciplinary collaborations, we develop and apply cutting-edge techniques for effective analysis of the structure and activity of neuronal synapses and circuits, with an emphasis on nano-imaging and whole-brain imaging methods, including STORM/PALM, SIM, cryoET, cLEM, light-sheet microscopy, as well as related imaging probes. 

    Selected Publications

    Wang H, Zhu Q, Ding L, Shen Y, Yang C-Y, Xu F, Shu C, Guo Y, Xiong Z, Shan Q, Jia F, Su P, Yang Q-R, Li B, He X, Chen X, Wu F, Zhou J-N, Xu F, Han H, Lau P-M & Bi G-Q. (2019) Scalable volumetric imaging for ultrahigh-speed brain mapping at synaptic resolution. National Science Review 6, 982-992.

    Liu YT, Tao CL, Lau PM, Zhou ZH & Bi GQ. (2019) Postsynaptic protein organization revealed by electron microscopy. Curr Opin Struct Biol 54, 152-160.

    Tao CL, Liu YT, Sun R, Zhang B, Qi L, Shivakoti S, Tian CL, Zhang P, Lau PM, Zhou ZH & Bi GQ. (2018) Differentiation and Characterization of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses by Cryo-electron Tomography and Correlative Microscopy. J Neurosci 38, 1493-1510.

    Sun R, Chen X, Yin CY, Qi L, Lau PM, Han H & Bi GQ. (2018) Correlative light and electron microscopy for complex cellular structures on PDMS substrates with coded micro-patterns. Lab Chip 18, 3840-3848.

    Fu ZX, Tan X, Fang H, Lau PM, Wang X, Cheng H & Bi GQ. (2017) Dendritic mitoflash as a putative signal for stabilizing long-term synaptic plasticity. Nat Commun 8, 31.

    Li XY., Liu HJ., Sun XX., Bi GQ, Zhang GQ. (2013) Highly Fluorescent Dye-Aggregate- Enhanced Energy-Transfer Nanoparticles for Neuronal Cell Imaging. Adv Opti Mater 1(8):549-553.

    Gerkin, RC, Nauen, DW, Xu, F & Bi, GQ. (2013) Homeostatic regulation of spontaneous and evoked synaptic transmission in two steps. Mol Brain 6, 38, doi:10.1186/1756-6606-6-38.

    Shim, SH, Xia, C, Zhong, G, Babcock, HP, Vaughan, JC, Huang, B, Wang, X, Xu, C, Bi, GQ & Zhuang, X. (2012) Super-resolution fluorescence imaging of organelles in live cells with photoswitchable membrane probes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109, 13978-13983.

    Nauen, DW & Bi, GQ. (2012) Measuring action potential-evoked transmission at individual synaptic contacts. J Neural Eng 9, 036014, doi:10.1088/1741-2560/9/3/036014.

    Zhang, JC, Lau, PM & Bi, GQ. (2009) Gain in sensitivity and loss in temporal contrast of STDP by dopaminergic modulation at hippocampal synapses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106, 13028-13033, doi:10.1073/pnas.0900546106.

    Wang, HX, Gerkin, RC, Nauen, DW & Bi, GQ. (2005) Coactivation and timing-dependent integration of synaptic potentiation and depression. Nat Neurosci 8, 187-193.

    Lau, PM & Bi, GQ. (2005) Synaptic mechanisms of persistent reverberatory activity in neuronal networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102, 10333-10338.

    Bi, GQ & Rubin, J. (2005) Timing in synaptic plasticity: from detection to integration. Trends Neurosci 28, 222-228.

    Berninger, B & Bi, GQ. (2002) Synaptic modification in neural circuits: a timely action. Bioessays 24, 212-222.

    Bi, GQ & Poo, MM. (2001) Synaptic modification by correlated activity: Hebb's postulate revisited. Annu Rev Neurosci 24, 139-166.

    Andersen, SS & Bi, GQ. (2000) Axon formation: a molecular model for the generation of neuronal polarity. Bioessays 22, 172-179.

    Bi, GQ & Poo, MM. (1999) Distributed synaptic modification in neural networks induced by patterned stimulation. Nature 401, 792-796.

    Bi, GQ & Poo, MM. (1998) Synaptic modifications in cultured hippocampal neurons: Dependence on spike timing, synaptic strength, and postsynaptic cell type. J Neurosci 18, 10464-10472.

    Bi, GQ, Alderton, JM & Steinhardt, RA. (1995) Calcium-regulated exocytosis is required for cell membrane resealing. J Cell Biol 131, 1747-1758.

    Steinhardt, RA, Bi, GQ & Alderton, JM. (1994) Cell membrane resealing by a vesicular mechanism similar to neurotransmitter release. Science 263, 390-393.

    Website：http://neurophysics.ustc.edu.cn/
    E-mail: gqbi@ustc.edu.cn
    Phone：0551-63602466