Brain development is a finely orchestrated process. Transient abnormalities, such as delayed or excessive growth of axons and dendrites in neurons can have a prolonged impact in the formation of functional connections. Early postnatal stages are critical periods, in which both intrinsic genetic programs and sensory experience participate in the formation and refinement of functional circuitry. My lab uses mouse olfactory system as a model to study the molecular mechanisms of neuronal network formation and plasticity. Using a combination of cell biological, genetic and molecular biological approaches, we are focused on studying molecules that regulate olfactory sensory axon growth and guidance, mitral cell dendritic differentiation and olfactory circuitry formation.

Representative Publications

Cheng TW, and Gong Q (2009) Secreted TARSH regulates olfactory mitral cell dendritic complexity. Eur J Neurosci 29: 1083-1095.

Tran H. Chen H. Walz A. Posthumus J.C. and Gong Q. (2008) Influence of olfactory epithelium on mitral/tufted cell dendritic outgrowth. PLoS One 3(11): e3816 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003816.

Chen H. Dadsetan S. Fomina A.F. and Gong Q. (2008) Expressing exogenous functional odorant receptors in cultured olfactory sensory neurons. Neural Dev 3:22.

Lee W. Cheng T.W. and Gong Q. (2008) Olfactory sensory neuron specific and sexually dimorphic expression of protocadherin 20. J Comp Neurol 507(1): 1076-86.

Chen H. Kohno K. and Gong Q. (2005) Conditional ablation of mature olfactory sensory neurons mediated by diphtheria toxin receptor. J Neurocytology 34: 37-47.

Recent/Current Teaching

CHA 400, Developmental, Gross and Radiographic Anatomy

MCB 255, Molecular Mechanisms of Animal Development

CHA 298, Current Topics in Cell Biology

Qizhi Gong, Ph.D.

Recent/Current Research Funding

Graduate Group Affiliations

Research Interests

Representative Publications

Recent/Current Teaching

Recent/Current
Research Funding