Minyan Wang joined at XJTLU at Department of Biological Sciences in 2011. She is currently Professor, Director of Centre for Neuroscience jointly founded by Wangwenli Charitable Foundation and XJTLU; She holds an honorary staff position at the University of Liverpool and is PhD supervisor at the Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK. Prior to her position at XJTLU, she held a lecturer position at the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, UK between 2008-2011, after the two postdoctoral training at University of Newcastle and University of Bradford, UK, During 2004-2008. She was awarded of PhD in Neuropharmacology in 2004 at University of Bradford, UK, and obtained 1st degree in Pharmacy in 1988 and MSc in Pharmacology in 1997 at Hebei Medical University. She has rich experience in curriculum design and development in Higher Education and holds an MA degree in teaching an learning in Higher Education, UK. Her research projects focus on molecular mechanisms of migraine pain and drug target identification. More details about her publications can be found via the URL (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Minyan_Wang).
Qualifications
Ph.D. , Neuropharmacology, University of Bradford, UK - 2004
M.Sc. , Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, China - 1997
B.Sc. , Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, China - 1988
M.A. , Teaching and learning in higher education, University of Central Lancashire, UK- 2012
Experience
Lecturer/Associate Professor/Senior Associate Professor/Professor, XJTLU, 2011 to 2022
Lecturer, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire - 2008 to 2010
Senior Pharmacologist and ICT-China project manager, Institute of Cancer Therapeutics , University of Bradford - 2006 to 2008
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Newcastle - 2004 to 2006
Visiting Scientist, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham - 2000 to 2000
Pharmacologist/Senior Pharmacologist/Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medicine Control Institute, a subsector of SFDA - 1988 to 2000
Research interests
My main research interest is to understand the molecular basis of migraine. Both cortical spreading depression (CSD), which is associated with the aura phase of migraine and activation of trigeminovascular system are the hallmarks of migraine. To understand the underlying mechanisms of migraine, we have focused on the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and key neurotransmitter receptor subunits and ion channels using multi-disciplinary approach. We apply neurobiology approach (e.g., WB, qPCR, IHC, IP), in vitro chick retinal spreading depression and a mouse brain slice CSD models of migraine aura using intrinsic optical imaging; We also have in vivo microdialysis-based rat migraine model using electrophysiology and laser Doppler flowmetry to monitor cerebral blood flow changes. With the development of the Centre for Neuroscience under my direction, we are looking at how CGRP might be induced in early stage of migraine and how key molecules involved in NMDA receptor and TRPA1 signalling mediate cortex susceptibility to CSD challenge and sensory perception. Our research outcome may point to novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for migraine and the neurological disorders associated with CSD. For more information on my research, please see my research gate profile.
Articles
Nie, L.; Sun, K.; Gong, Z.; Li, H.; Quinn, J.P.; Wang, M*. Src Family Kinases Facilitate the Crosstalk between CGRP and Cytokines in Sensitizing Trigeminal Ganglion via Transmitting CGRP Receptor/PKA Pathway. Cells 2022, 11, 3498. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11213498
Siew Woh Choo, Ju Lian Chong, Philippe Gaubert, Alice Catherine Hughes, Stephen O’Brien, Anne-Lise Chaber, Agostinho Antunes, Sara Platto, Nick Ching-Min Sun, Li Yu, Klaus-Peter Koepfli, Tulshi Laxmi Suwal, Mukesh Thakur, Stephan Ntie, Elisa Panjang, Jayaraj Vijaya Kumaran, Tariq Mahmood, Sean P. Heighton, Dago Dorji, Bi Sery Gonedelé, Bryan Raveen Nelson, Chabi A.M.S. Djagoun, Ing Hoe Loh, Prativa Kaspal, Siim Pauklin, Toby Michelena, Hongxiang Zhu, Leonard Lipovich, Xuechen Tian, Siwei Deng, Christopher E. Mason, Jingyang Hu, Robert White, Nicholas S. Jakubovics, Wei Yee Wee, Tze King Tan, Kum Thong Wong, Steve Paterson, Ming Chen, Yixin Zhang, Rofina Yasmin Othman, Larry C. Brown, Bairong Shen, Guanghou Shui, Mia Yang Ang, Yunqi Zhao, Yongming Li, Bo Zhang, Cheng Tung Chong, Yu Meng, Aloysius Wong, Jianzhong Su, Hasmahzaiti Omar, Hua Shen, Choo Hock Tan, Hongyu Xu, Ian C. Paterson, Minyan Wang, Chee-Kai Chan, Siyuan Zhang, Avirup Dutta, Tay Sun Tee, Noël P.D. Juvigny-Khenafou, Naresh V.R. Mutha, Muhamad Afiq Aziz, A collective statement in support of saving pangolins, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 824, 2022, 153666, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153666.
Nie L, Ma D, Quinn JP and Wang M* 2021 'Src family kinases activity is required for transmitting purinergic P2X7 receptor signaling in cortical spreading depression and neuroinflammation', J Headache Pain, (2021) 22:146. (2021) 22:146 https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-021-01359-8
Nie L, Jiang L, Quinn JP, Grubb BD, Wang M* 2021 TRPA1-Mediated Src Family Kinases Activity Facilitates Cortical Spreading Depression Susceptibility and Trigeminovascular System Sensitization. . Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021,22 (Nov), 12273. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijms222212273
Bu F, Yuan MM, Ma DQ, Zhu Y, Wang M*. 2020 'Inhibition of NR2A reduces calcitonin gene-related peptide gene expression induced by cortical spreading depression in rat amygdala. Neuropeptides. Volume 84, 102097 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.npep.2020.102097
Nie Lingdi, Ye Wen-Rui,Chen Shangbin, Chirchiglia Domenico, Wang Minyan*. 2020 'Src Family Kinases in the Central Nervous System:Their Emerging Role in Pathophysiology of Migraine and Neuropathic Pain'. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020 Aug 14. doi: 10.2174/1570159X18666200814180218.
Bu F, Nie L, Quiin JP, Wang M*. Sarcoma Family Kinase-Dependent Pannexin-1 Activation after Cortical Spreading Depression Is Mediated by NR2A-Containing Receptors', Int J Mol Sci, 2020, 21:1269
Jiang LW, Ma DQ, Grubb BD, Wang M*. 2019 'ROS/TRPA1/CGRP signaling mediates cortical spreading depression'. The journal of headache and pain. 2019;20:1-12.
Jiang LW, Wang Y, Bu F, Xu YW, Zhang WJ, Wang M* .Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin Type 1 signaling plays a key role in cortical spreading depression. Neuroscience 2018 (382):23-34.
Close LN, Eftekhari S, Wang M, Charles AC, Russo AF. Cortical spreading depression as a site of origin for migraine: Role of CGRP. Cephalalgia 2018 Apr. DOI: 10.1177/0333102418774299
Domenico Chirchiglia, Erika Cione, Maria Cristina Caroleo, Minyan Wang, Giulio Di Mizio, Noemi Faedda, Teodosio Giacolini, Serena Siviglia, Luca Gallelli, Vincenzo Guidetti . Effects of add-on ultramicronized N-Palmitoyl Ethanol Amide in patients with Migraine with Aura: a pilot study. Front Neurol. 2018 Aug 17;9:674. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00674.
Bu F, Wang Y, Ma DQ, Quinn QP, Wang M*. Src family kinases activity is required for cortical spreading depression. Cephalalgia 2017 Dec doi: 10.1177/0333102417748572
Li, Yanli, Wang, Yan & Wang, Minyan* 2017 'Both Senkyunolide I and Ligustrazine Suppress Retinal Spreading Depression.', Austin J Pharmacol Ther, vol. 5, no. , p. 1091-1093.
Wang Y, Tye AE, Zhao JL, Ma DQ, Raddant AC, Bu F, Spector BL, Winslow NK, Wang M*, Russo AF*. Induction of calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in rats by cortical spreading depression. Cephalalgia 2016. DOI: 10.1177/0333102416678388.
Bu F, Du R, Li Y, Quinn JP & Wang M*. NR2A contributes to genesis and propagation of cortical spreading depression in rats. Sci Rep. 2016, 6:23576
Wang Y, Li Y, Wang M*. 2016 Involvement of CGRP receptors in retinal spreading depression. Pharmacological reports : 68(5):935-8.
Wang M*, Li Y, Lin Y. GABAA receptor α2 subtype activation suppresses retinal spreading depression. Neuroscience. 2015, 298:137-144.
Jia, Yiman, Zhou, Jiayi, Bu, Fan & Wamg, Minyan* 2015 'Synergistic Suppression of Cortical Spreading Depression under NR2A and NR2B Inhibition'', Pharmcology & Pharmacy, vol. 6, no. , p.
Wang, Minyan 2013 'Cortical spreading depression and neuropeptides: a brief review of current progress', Neuropeptides, vol. 47, no. , p. 463-466
Wang M*, Chazot P, Ali S, Duckett S, Stevens RS, Obrenovitch TP. Effects of NMDA receptor antagonists with different subtype-selectivities on retinal spreading depression. Br J Pharmacol. 2012, 165, 235–244
Witham, CL, Wang, M & Baker, SN 2010 'Corticomuscular Coherence between Motor Cortex, Somatosensory Areas and Forearm Muscles in the Monkey', Front Syst Neurosci, vol. , no. , p. 1-14
Wang, Minyan, Urenjak, J, Fedele, E & Obrenovitch, TP 2004 'Effects of phosphodiesterase inhibition on cortical spreading depression and associated changes in extracellular cyclic GMP', Biochem Pharmacol, vol. , no. , p.
Wang, Minyan, Dunn, WR, Chan, SL, Garfield, B & Wilson, VG 2003 'Evidence for Nonadrenoceptor Responses to Imidazoline Derivatives in the Porcine Isolated Rectal Artery', Ann NY Acad Sci, vol. , no. , p. 386–391
Zhang, M, Zhao, D, Zhao, MY & Ren, LM 2003 'Effect of urethane on insulin level in rats', Chin J Pharmacol Toxicol, vol. 17, no. 5, p. 370-374
Obrenovitch, TP, Urenjak, J & Wang, M 2002 'Nitric oxide formation during cortical spreading depression is critical for rapid subsequent recovery of ionic homeostasis', J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, vol. , no. , p.
Wang, Minyan, Dunn, WR, Blaylock, NA, Chan, SL & Wilson, VG 2001 'Evidence for a non-adrenoceptor, imidazoline-mediated contractile response to oxymetazoline in the porcine isolated rectal artery', Br J Pharmacol, vol. , no. , p.
Wang, Minyan, Ren, LM, Du, JZ & Fu, SX 2000 'Urethane-induced hyperglycaemia', Acta Pharmacol Sin, vol. , no. , p.
Wang, Minyan, Ren, LM & Sun, JX 2000 'Effects of diltiazem on insulin level in rats', Chin Pharmacol Bull, vol. 16, no. 6, p. 670-672
Du, ZJ & Wang, M 2000 'Influence of nifedipine and glibenclamide on plasma glucose level in the fasted and adrenaline hydrochloride-induced hyperglycaemic rat', Chin J of Modern Applied Pharmacy, vol. 17, no. 2, p. 129-131
Wang, Minyan, Ren, LM & Sun, JX 2000 'Effects of diltiazem on the hypoglycemic action of glybenclasmide in the hyperglycaemic rat', Pharma J Chin PLA, vol. , no. , p.
Wang, Minyan, Ren, LM, Du, ZJ & Sun, JX 1997 'Effect of urethane on plasma glucose and insulin in the rat', Pharm J Chin Northwestern, vol. , no. , p.
Wang, Minyan, Zhang, CQ & Wang, YD 1997 'Study on bacterial endotoxin determination of sodium cefoperazone', Chin Pharmaceutical Affairs, vol. , no. , p.
Zhang, GQ, Wang, M & Yan, GZ 1995 'Effects of guanxinjing on myocardial ischaemia', Acta Academiae medicinae Hebei, vol. , no. , p.
Wang, Minyan & Du, ZJ 1993 'Evaluation of decreased temperature in the pyrogen test', Chin Med Inspection Pharmacol J, vol. , no. , p.
Chapters, cases, readings and supplements
Obrenovitch, TP, Wang, M, Urenjak, J, Butler, MJ & Dreier, J.P. 2004, 'The role(s) of nitric oxide during cortical spreading depression' in (eds) Pharmacology of Cerebral Ischemia, Krieglstein J, Klumpp S Ed, Medpharm, Stuttgart, pp. 157-165
Conference presentations
2022-2023, Wang M*, Nie L, Dong M. Src family kinases activity is required for transmitting purinergic P2X7 receptor signaling in contributing to cortical spreading depression propagation (EHC-2022-P8). The 16th European Headache Congress Vienna, Dec 7-10, 2022.
2020-2021, 2. Nie L, Qunn JP, Wang M*. TRPA1/SFK signaling contributes to trigeminal ganglion sensitization. The International Headache Congress-HIS and EHF joint congress 2021. Virtual. 8-12 September 2021. J Headache Pain 2021,22(Suppl 1):P0256.
2020-2021, 1. Wang M#*, Jiang L, Sun K. Cortical spreading depression alters transcriptomic profile in meninges and associated vasculature of rats. The International Headache Congress-HIS and EHF joint congress. Virtual. 8-12 September 2021. J Headache Pain 2021,22(Suppl 1):P0255.
2020-2021. Nie L, Quinn JP, Wang M*. Src family kinases regulate neuroinflammation in a rat migraine model. (MTV20-DP-024). The 18th Migraine Trust International Symposium. Virtual symposium. 3-9th Oct, 2020.
2019-2020, Jiang LW, Lu DY, Grubb BD, Wang M*. TRPA1 deactivation reduces the rapid induction of IL-1β but not c-fos gene expression after cortical spreading depression ((2019)IHC-PO-099). The 19th International Headache Society Congress, Dublin, 5- 8th Sept, 2019
2019-2020 Wang M*. Multiple cortical spreading depression-induced calcitonin gene-related peptide gene expression in amygdala of rats is regulated by NMDA receptors ((2019)IHC-PO-091). The 19th International Headache Society Congress, Dublin, 5- 8th Sept, 2019.
2018-2019, Wang M #*. TRPA1/CGRP signaling mediates cortical spreading depression. The 3rd International Conference on Spreading Depolarization (iCSD2019) Yokohama, 1-3th Jul 2019.
2018-2019. Wang M*. Role of TRPA1 channel and CGRP during cortical spreading depression. The 17th Biennial Migraine Trust International Symposium, London, 6-9th Sept, 2018.
2017-2018, The 18th International Headache Society Congress / Both anti-CGRP and anti-CALCRL antibodies suppress cortical spreading depression.
2016-2017, Society of Biological Psychiatry's 72nd Annual Scientific Convention / Subtype-Specific NMDA Receptor pathology in migraine
2015-2016, The 5th European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress / NR2A mediates CSD-induced panx1 channel opening via Src family kinases
2014-2015, International Headache Congress / GABAA receptor α2 subtype activation suppresses retinal spreading depression
2015-2016, 2nd Global Pain congress / TRPA1 mediates cortical spreading depression via CGRP
2013-2014, BIT's 4th Annual World Congress of Neurotalk-2013 / Functional consequences of NMDA receptors in cortical spreading depression
2011-2012, The 9th Annual Chinese Neuorscience Society Conference / Role of Different Subunit-Containing NMDA-Receptors in Retinal Spreading Depression
2010-2011, British Pharmacological Society Winter Conference / 'Effects of subtype-containing NMDA receptor antagonists on retinal spreading depression
2005-2006, The neuroscience of Human Movement in health and disease. / Information Theory Analysis of Proprioceptive Encoding in Primate Sensorimotor Cortex
2005-2006, 35th Annual Neuroscience Conference / Task Dependent Synchrony Between Sensory and Motor Cortices During Precise Finger Positioning in the Monke
2005-2006, The neuroscience of Human Movement in health and disease / 'Local Field Potentials from Motor and Somatosensory Cortex show Coherence, and Directed Coherence, with Contralateral EMG in the Monkey
2003-2004, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) / Pharmacy practice in P.R.China (Supervision across the world)
2003-2004, 17th National Meeting of the British Neuroscience Association / 'Nitric oxide formation during cortical spreading depression may control multiple mechanisms
2002-2003, 3rd Forum of European Neuroscience / 'Contribution of nitric oxide to the early recovery of ionic homeostasis during K+-induced cortical spreading depression
2002-2003, The 1st Neuroscience Northeast Mini-Conference / 'Nitric oxide/cyclic GMP signaling contributes to the recovery of ionic homeostasis during K+-induced cortical spreading depression
Grants
Wang Minyan 2018-2021, XJTLU Key Programme Special Fund, 200K RMB
Wang, Minyan 2013-2018, Principal Investigator, Neurological disease target identification and drug discovery, 3000K, Wang Wenli Education Development Charity Fund
Professional service activities
Director of MRes Programme in Molecular Bioscience
Others: member of University Ethic Committe, School Learning and Teaching Committee, PG exam board, Library officer, Student-staff liaison officer (UG and PG)
Teaching activities
Modules taught at XJTLU: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Experimental Design and Analysis, Biochemical Methods and Analysis, Cell Structure and Function, Molecular Biology Principle, Molecular and Cell Biology Techniques, Advanced Biochemical Methods, Final Year Project.
Modules taught in the UK: Introduction to Biochemistry; Cellular and Biochemical Basis of Pharmacology; Investigation of Diseases; System Pharmacology; CNS, Pain and Cancer Therapy; Cancer Biology
Courses taught
XJTLU: Bioinformatics (UG)
XJTLU: Molecular Bioscience (MRes)
XJTLU: Biological Sciences programe since 2011
UK: Pharmacy(UG, UClan)
UK: Biomedical Sciences (undergraduate, UClan)
UK: Cancer Biology (MRes)
Professional memberships
International Headache Society
Reviewers for many journals (Sci Rep, Br J Pharmacol, CommBio, Neuropeptides, Cephalalgia, Headache, J Head Pain, J Exp Neurosci)