Personal Profile
Guo Daji, Ph.D.,
Tenure-track associate professor
Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation,
South China Normal University
E-mail: g0923@foxmail.com; dajiguo@scnu.edu.cn
Research interest
1. The pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism) and neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease).
2. The neural circuits underlying social behavior, learning and cognition, and emotional responses.
Work and Educational experience
Jan. 2025 – Present South China Normal University, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, tenure-track associate professor
Nov. 2022 – Nov. 2024 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Department of Neurology, Postdoc
Jul.2020 – Jul. 2022 The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Postdoc
Sep. 2014 – Jun 2020 Jinan university, Ph.D
Sep. 2010 – Jun 2014 Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, B.S.
Research Funding
1. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant Nos 82101240, Investigation of Autism-related Protein DOCK4 in Regulating RAC1 Activation and Social Behavior via DOCK-ELMO Complex Assembly. 2022.01 - 2024.12, Role on project: PI
2. China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Grant No 2021M691245, Investigation of hippocampal CA1 region DOCK4 in the excitatory neurons in regulating social and cognitive behaviors via DOCK-ELMO complex. 2021.06 - 2022.06, Role on project: PI
3. China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Grant No 2023M734052, Investigation of Autism-related Protein DOCK4 in the Regulation of Mechanical Pain Perception by Maintaining the Excitability of the VLO-PAG circuit. 2023.06 - 2024.10, Role on project: PI
4. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, Grant No 2020A1515110570, Research on the Molecular Pathological Mechanisms of Autism-Related Social Disorders Based on DOCK4 Regulation of NMDA Receptor Protein Translation. 2020.10 - 2023.09, Role on project: PI
Selected Publications (#: equal contribution; *: corresponding author)
1. Guo, D.#, Peng, Y.#, Wang, L.#, Sun, X., Wang, X., Liang, C., Yang, X., Li, S., Xu, J., Ye, W. C.*, Jiang, B.*, Shi, L.*. Autism-like social deficit generated by Dock4 deficiency is rescued by restoration of Rac1 and NMDA receptor function. Molecular Psychiatry. 2021; 26, 1505–1519. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-019-0472-7
2. Ning, Z.#, Liu, Y.#, Wan, M.#, Zuo, Y., Chen, S., Shi, Z., Xu, Y., Li, H., Ko, H., Zhang, J., Xiao, S.*, Guo, D.*, Tang, Y.*. APOE2 protects against Aβ pathology by improving neuronal mitochondrial function through ERRα signaling. Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters. 2024; 29(1):87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11658-024-00600-x
3. Chen, S.#, Guo, D.#, Zhu, Y.#, Xiao, S., Xie, J., Zhang, Z., Hu, Y., Huang, J., Ma, X., Ning, Z., Cao, L.*, Cheng, J.*, Tang, Y.*. Amyloid β oligomer induces cerebral vasculopathy via pericyte-mediated endothelial dysfunction. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy. 2024; 16(1):56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-024-01423-w
4. Lu, H. J.#, Guo, D.#, Wei, Q. Q*. Potential of Neuroinflammation- Modulating Strategies in Tuberculous Meningitis: Targeting Microglia. Aging and Disease. 2024; 15(3):1255-1276. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2023.0311
5. Guo, D., Yang, X., Shi, L.*. Rho GTPase regulators and effectors in autism spectrum disorders: animal models and insights for therapeutics. Cells. 2020; 9(4):835. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9040835
6. Guo, D.# *, Yang, X.#, Gao, M.#, Chen, X., Tang, Y., Shen, L., Li, K.*, Shi, L.*. Deficiency of Autism-Related Gene Dock4 Leads to Impaired Spatial Memory and Hippocampal Function in Mice at Late Middle Age. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. 2023; 43(3):1129-1146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-022-01233-4
7. Yang, X.#, Guo, D.#, Li, K., Shi, L*. Altered postnatal developmental patterns of ultrasonic vocalizations in Dock4 knockout mice. Behavioural Brain Research. 2021; 406:113232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113232