Journal of Stem Cells and Clinical Practice

Dr. Zhiyuan Li is working as Principal Investigator in Laboratory of Ion Channels Research at Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, china. He completed his Ph.D. in Pharmacology Department at Central South University, China and in Nutrition Department at Tokushima University, Japan. He was a Post-doctoral Fellow at Pharmacology Department at Vanderbilt University, US. He also worked as Professor, Sheng-Hua Scholar, Director of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiang-Ya School of Medicine, Central South University. He received several awards and grants. He authored many articles, books, abstracts and book chapters.  

Dr. Zhiyuan Li’s research is focused on cell membrane ion channels with electrophysiological method patch clamp technique. Regarding the stem cells differentiation, to increase its efficiency and examined the effects of Kv1.3 channel. Kv1.3 specific blocker Psora-4, a small molecule, could improve the efficiency of NSC neuronal differentiation. It also increased the percentage of mature-like neurons. Ion channels crucial roles in pathological processing. The efficient generation of human iPSCs from SMA, Parkinson’s, LNS and Nav mutant epilepsy patients, and then systemically recorded ion channels properties on these differentiated functional neurons. The results demonstrate that iPSCs-derived neurons exhibited a hyperexcitable state. More importantly, patient iPSCs-derived neurons can recapitulate the neuronal pathophysiology and respond to drug treatment, indicating that these neurons can be potentially used for screening appropriate drugs for personalized therapies.