Wei Wei, PhD

How are neural circuits assembled to perform specific computations? An excellent model system to address this question is the retina, where a diverse set of neural circuits are wired with remarkable precision and intricacy to extract salient features such as color, contrast and motion from the visual scene. Each retinal circuit utilizes distinct neuronal types and conveys the processed visual information to higher brain by a specific type of retinal ganglion cells.



My lab is interested in the synaptic basis of neural computation in the retina. Our current research is focused on understanding the developmental and adult patterns of synaptic connections underlying the retinal circuits, and determining how the specific wiring patterns impact visual processing. We leverage the increasing repertoire of genetic tools that label specific retinal neuron types to target the synapses of interest, and characterize the maturation and function of these synapses using a combination of techniques including multiphoton microscopy, visual stimulation, electrophysiology and molecular biology. These studies will provide insight into the neural mechanisms of visual processing in the retina, and also have broader implications in the fundamental questions of synapse development and organization in the central nervous system.

University of California, Berkeley
California
Postdoctoral training - Neurobiology
2011

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
New York
PhD - Neurobiology
2008

Natural language processing to identify lupus nephritis phenotype in electronic health records.
Natural language processing to identify lupus nephritis phenotype in electronic health records. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2024 Mar 03; 22(Suppl 2):348.
PMID: 38433189

Dendritic mGluR2 and perisomatic Kv3 signaling regulate dendritic computation of mouse starburst amacrine cells.
Dendritic mGluR2 and perisomatic Kv3 signaling regulate dendritic computation of mouse starburst amacrine cells. Nat Commun. 2024 Feb 28; 15(1):1819.
PMID: 38418467

Utilization of electronic health record data to evaluate the association of urban environment with systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms.
Utilization of electronic health record data to evaluate the association of urban environment with systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 06 01; 62(6):e180-e181.
PMID: 36383166

Utilization of electronic health record data to evaluate the association of urban environment on systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms.
Utilization of electronic health record data to evaluate the association of urban environment on systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 Nov 16.
PMID: 36383166

Functional convergence of on-off direction-selective ganglion cells in the visual thalamus.
Functional convergence of on-off direction-selective ganglion cells in the visual thalamus. Curr Biol. 2022 07 25; 32(14):3110-3120.e6.
PMID: 35793680

Ripk3 signaling regulates HSCs during stress and represses radiation-induced leukemia in mice.
Ripk3 signaling regulates HSCs during stress and represses radiation-induced leukemia in mice. Stem Cell Reports. 2022 06 14; 17(6):1428-1441.
PMID: 35561683

Visual stimulation induces distinct forms of sensitization of On-Off direction-selective ganglion cell responses in the dorsal and ventral retina.
Visual stimulation induces distinct forms of sensitization of On-Off direction-selective ganglion cell responses in the dorsal and ventral retina. J Neurosci. 2022 Apr 26.
PMID: 35474276

Under-specification as the source of ambiguity and vagueness in narrative phenotype algorithm definitions.
Under-specification as the source of ambiguity and vagueness in narrative phenotype algorithm definitions. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2022 01 28; 22(1):23.
PMID: 35090449

Genetic association of primary nonresponse to anti-TNFa therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Genetic association of primary nonresponse to anti-TNFa therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2022 01 01; 32(1):1-9.
PMID: 34380996

Genetic association of primary nonresponse to anti-TNFa therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
De T, Zhang H, Alarcon C, Lec B, Avitia J, Smithberger E, Chen C, Horvath M, Kwan S, Young M, Adhikari S, Kwon J, Pacheco J, Jarvik G, Wei WQ, Mentch F, Hakonarson H, Sleiman P, Gordon A, Harley J, Linneman J, Hebbring S, Parisiadou L, Perera MA. Genetic association of primary nonresponse to anti-TNFa therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2021 Aug 18.
PMID: 34380996

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McKnight Scholar Award
2016

Karl Kirchgessner Foundation Grant
2014

Sloan Research Fellowship
2013

E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation Grant
2013

Whitehall Foundation Grant
2012