Name:  Gong  Chen
Address:  Assistant Professor of Neurobiology (tenure track)
   Department of Biology
   201 Life Sciences Building
   Center for Neurosciences
   Huck Institutes of Life Sciences
   The Pennsylvania State University
   University Park, PA 16802
Email:      gongchen@psu.edu

EDUCATION

1983 – 1987 B. S.,     Biology
  Department of Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China

1987 – 1993 Ph. D.,    Neurobiology 
  Supervisor:   Professor  T. P. Feng
  Shanghai Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
 
1994 – 1997 Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale University
  Mentor: Dr. Anthony van den Pol

1997 – 2001  Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University
  Mentor: Dr. Richard Tsien

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2002 – Present  Assistant Professor
  Department of Biology
  Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
     
     Member, Neuroscience Option
     Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program
     Penn State University
 
     Member, Center for Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
     Neuroscience Institute
     Penn State University
     

AWARDS

1999-2001 “National Research Service Award” postdoctoral fellowship from NIH
  Awarded at Stanford University
1995 “Ohse Award” for excellent basic research from Yale University

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

American Society for Neuroscience
Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (Treasurer of Neuroscience Division)
The Ray Wu Society for Life Sciences

JOURNAL REVIEWER

Journal of Neurophysiology
Biotechnique
Synapse

GRANT REVIEWER

National Science Foundation
Chinese National Science Foundation

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Biol 426, Developmental Neurobiology, Penn State University
Biol 471, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory, Penn State University
Biol 592, Critical Evaluation of Scientific Literatures, Penn State University
PSU 016, First Year Science Seminars in Biology, Penn State University
  

COMMITTEE SERVED

2002-present Graduate Affair Committee, Department of Biology, Penn State University

2004-present Neuroscience Seminar Committee, Chair
 Center for Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
 Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences
   Penn State University

FUNDING SUPPORT

Current Funding:

1.      Source:    National Science Foundation  NSF 0236429
Proposal Title: Functional Dissection of Glutamatergic Synapses: From Contact to Evoked Neurotransmission  
Amount:   $352,000 
Period:   9/15/03–8/30/06
Role:  Principle Investigator

Pending Support:

1. Source:  NINDS, NIH
 Proposal Title: Synaptic versus Extrasynaptic Regulation in Epileptogenesis
 Role:  PI

2. Source:  NARSAD
Proposal Title: Modulation of Extrasynaptic GABAA Receptors as a Potential
Therapeutic Intervention for Schizophrenia
Role: PI

 
Finished Projects:

1. Source:  Penn State University Life Science Consortium Innovative Biotechnology
    Research Award
Proposal Title: Functional Dissection of Synaptogenesis at Visualized Single Synapses
Amount:  $42,500
Period:  7/1/2002-6/30/2003
Role:  PI

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

1. Zhou, J., Pfaff, D. W., and Chen, G. (2005). Sex difference in estrogenic regulation of neuronal activities in neonatal cultures of ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus. PNAS (In press).

2. Yao, J., Qi, J. S., and Chen, G. (2005). Actin-dependent activation of presynaptic silent boutons contributes to long-term synaptic plasticity in developing hippocampal synapses. Submitted.

3. Deng, L.B., Dong, N., Fang, C., Luscher, B., Chen, G. (2005). Presynaptic differentiation is the rate-limiting step during GABAergic synaptogenesis. Submitted.

4. Qi, J. S., Yao, J., and Chen, G. (2005). Preferential regulation of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors by hyperexcitatory stimulation in rat hippocampal cultures. Submitted.

5. Alldred, M.J., Mulder-Rosi, J., Lingenfelter, S. E., Chen, G., and Lüscher, B.  (2005) Distinct g2 Subunit Domains Mediate Clustering and Synaptic Function of Postsynaptic GABAA Receptors and Gephyrin. Journal of Neuroscience 25(3): 594-603.

6. Jiang, M., Deng, L.B., and Chen, G.   (2004).  High Ca2+-phosphate transfection efficiency enables single neuron gene analysis.  Gene Therapy  11:1303-1311.

7. Cao, Y-Q., Piedras-Renteria, E., Smith, G. B., Chen, G., Harata, N. C., Tsien, R. W.   (2004). Effects of familial hemiplegic migraine type I mutations on neuronal P/Q-type channel activity and synaptic transmission. Neuron 43: 387-400.

8. Chen, G., Harata, N. and Tsien, R. W.  (2004). Paired-pulse depression of unitary quantal amplitude at single hippocampal synapses. PNAS 101: 1063-1068.

9. Deng, L. B., and Chen, G. (2003). Cyclothiazide potently inhibits g-aminobutyric acid type A receptors in addition to enhancing glutamate responses. PNAS 100 (22): 13025-13029.

10. Chen, Y., Deng, L. B., Maeno-Hikichi, Y., Lai, M. Z., Chang, S. H., Chen, G., and Zhang, J. F. (2003). Formation of an endophilin-Ca2+ channel complex is critical for clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Cell 115: 37-48.

11. Chen, G., and van den Pol, A. N. (1998). Presynaptic GABA-B autoreceptor modulation of P/Q-type calcium channels and GABA release in rat suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons. Journal of Neuroscience 18:1913-1922.

12. Chen, G., and van den Pol, A. N. (1998). Coexpression of multiple metabotropic glutamate receptors in axon terminals of single suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons. Journal of Neurophysiology 80:1932-1938.

13. Gao, X. B., Chen, G., and van den Pol, A. N. (1998). GABA-dependent firing of glutamate-evoked action potentials at AMPA/kainate receptors in developing hypothalamic neurons. Journal of Neurophysiology  79: 716-726.

14. Chen, G., and van den Pol, A. N. (1997). Adenosine modulation of calcium currents and presynaptic inhibition of GABA release in suprachiasmatic and arcuate nucleus neurons. Journal of Neurophysiology  77: 3035-3047.

15. Chen, G., and van den Pol, A. N. (1996).  Multiple NPY receptors coexist in pre- and postsynaptic sites: inhibition of GABA release in isolated self-innervating SCN neurons.  Journal of Neuroscience   16: 7711-7724.

16. Chen, G., Trombley, P. Q., and van den Pol, A. N. (1996).  Excitatory actions of GABA in developing hypothalamic neurons.  Journal of Physiology   494: 451-464.

17. van den Pol, A. N, Obrietan, K., and Chen, G. (1996).  Excitatory actions of GABA after neuronal trauma.  Journal of Neuroscience   16: 4283-4292.

18. van den Pol, A. N., Obrietan, K., Chen, G., and Belousov, A. (1996).  Neuropeptide Y-mediated long-term depression of excitatory activity in suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons.  Journal of Neuroscience  16: 5883-5895.

19. Chen, G., Trombley, P. Q., and van den Pol, A. N. (1995). GABA receptors precede glutamate receptors in hypothalamic development; differential regulation by astrocytes. Journal of Neurophysiology  74: 1473-1484.

20. Chen, G.  (1996).  Two components of  calcium currents in developing Xenopus spinal neurons.  Chinese Journal of Physiological Sciences  12:  170-176.

21. Chen, G.  (1996).  Calcium current run-down in cultured Xenopus embryonic spinal neurons.  Chinese Journal of Physiological Sciences  12: 177-182.

22. Zheng, P., Chen, G., Shi, N. C., Zhou, S. P., Lu, Y. Q., Yao, M. H., He, Z. Y. (1995).  Effects of toquipidine on ionic channels of cultured embryonic Xenopus laevis myoblasts and neurons.  Acta Pharmacologica Sinica  16: 427-430.