I have a multi‐disciplinary background which covers organic chemistry, biochemistry, ion channel biophysics, optogenetic technology, and neurobiology. Since postdoctoral training, I have been developing optogenetic and photopharmacological tools for precise manipulation of neurotransmission in the brain. After starting my independent position at Academia Sinica, I continued to develop new and better molecular tools for neurotransmission decoding. My ultimate goal is to apply our tools to investigate complex physiological and pathological phenomena such as synaptic plasticity, neuron-cancer communications, and brain-body interactions.

    The central nervous system (CNS) is operated by complex and dynamic cellular networks that generate functional outputs in response to sensory cues and/or physiological changes. Neurotransmission, the process that mediates the communication and interplay between neurons, is fundamental for CNS function and development. While its biomedical significance has been well recognized, the mechanistic understanding of neurotransmission in health and diseases remains largely obscure, as signaling molecules involved in neurotransmission are enormously diverse. Moreover, the distribution profile of neurotransmitters and their receptors is highly heterogeneous and varies dynamically. Studying neurotransmission with conventional approaches (e.g., pharmacology or gene knock-out/knock-in) has thus encountered critical obstacles.
    My laboratory integrates chemical, biochemical, and genetic approaches to develop enabling technologies for precise manipulation of neurotransmission. We focus on molecular tools that allow light to control either the function of neurotransmitter receptors or the release of neurotransmitters from axonal terminals. These biological activities are therapeutic targets for many neurological, psychiatric, and developmental disorders. Knowing why and how the CNS utilizes these signaling mechanisms will bring an exciting new dimension to our understanding of brain function, dysfunction, and development.