Josh Huang, PhD, PI
Principal Investigator
Duke School of Medicine Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience
Professor of Neurobiology
Professor of Cell Biology
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Contact Information

Email: josh.huang@duke.edu

Office: Bryan Research Building, room 401E

phone: (919) 613-1573

Location
Bryan Research Building, rooms 436, 438, 439

Huang Lab

CellREADR

Education

Ph.D., Brandeis University, 1994

We study the development and function of cortical circuits underlying motor control and cognitive processing. Our research program integrates multi-faceted approaches from genetic engineering to single-cell genomics, developmental neurobiology, imaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral analyses, and aims to link fundamental neuroscience to the understanding and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.    

Welcome to the Huang Lab!

Huang LabThe overarching goal of the Huang Lab is to apply innovative and multi-disciplinary approaches to study the development and function of neural circuits of the cerebral cortex that enable motor control and cognitive processing. Our starting point is the development of molecular genetic tools to systematically identify and manipulate a diverse array of specific neuronal cell types (i.e. basic circuit elements) in the mouse brain; our recent invention of a RNA-programmable cell targeting and editing method pioneers a new generation of facile and scalable cell type technology, generalizable across animal species, including humans.

To discover the developmental and molecular genetic basis of cortical cell types, we carry out state-of-the-art genetic fate mapping to track their developmental trajectories, from progenitor origin and lineage progression to input-output connectivity in cortical circuits. We then apply cell type targeted single cell transcriptomics and epigenomics to reveal gene expression profiles and genetic programs underlying neuron type identities.

To explore the cell type basis of neural circuit function, we start by designing a variety of [head-constrained as well as free-moving naturalistic] behavioral paradigms to probe the mouse’s motor and cognitive capacities that engage cortical circuits. Guided by insights from behavioral analysis, we apply cell type genetic tools that integrate in vivo imaging, electrophysiology, optogenetic, and anatomic circuit tracing to discover the specific roles of distinct neuron types in cortical circuit operation. By leveraging experimentally accessible neuron types as a solid “middle ground” to navigate across levels and scales of brain organization, our research paradigm coherently integrates multi-disciplinary approaches toward discovering the general principles of cerebral cortex architecture and function, with major implications in understanding and treatment of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Selected Recent Publications:

Qian Y, Li J, Zhao S, Matthews EA, Adoff M, Zhong W, An X, Yeo M, Park C, Yang X, Wang BS, Southwell DG, Huang ZJ. Programmable RNA sensing for cell monitoring and manipulation.  Nature. 2022 Oct;610(7933):713-721. doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-05280-1. Epub 2022 Oct 5. PMID: 36198803

Matho KS, Huilgol D, Galbavy W, He M, Kim G, An X, Lu J, Wu P, Di Bella DJ, Shetty AS, Palaniswamy R, Hatfield J, Raudales R, Narasimhan A, Gamache E, Levine JM, Tucciarone J, Szelenyi E, Harris JA, Mitra PP, Osten P, Arlotta P, Huang ZJ. (2021) Genetic dissection of the glutamatergic neuron system in cerebral cortex.  Nature. 2021 Oct;598(7879):182-187. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03955-9. Epub 2021 Oct 6. PMID: 34616069

Wang BS, Bernardez Sarria MS, An X, He M, Alam NM, Prusky GT, Crair MC, Huang ZJ. (2021) Retinal and Callosal Activity-Dependent Chandelier Cell Elimination Shapes Binocularity in Primary Visual Cortex. Neuron. 2021 Feb 3;109(3):502-515.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.11.004. Epub 2020 Dec 7. PMID: 33290732

Kelly, Sean M., Raudales, Ricardo, He, Miao, Lee, Jannifer H., Kim, Yongsoo, Gibb, Leif G., Wu, Priscilla, Matho, Katherine, Osten, Pavel, Graybiel, Ann M., Huang, ZJ. (2018) Radial Glial Lineage Progression and Differential Intermediate Progenitor Amplification Underlie Striatal Compartments and Circuit Organization. Neuron. ISSN 0896-6273

Paul A, Crow M, Raudales R, He M, Gillis J, Huang ZJ. (2017) Transcriptional Architecture of Synaptic Communication Delineates GABAergic Neuron Identity. Cell 171(3): 522-539. 2017 Sep 20. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.08.032. PubMed PMID: 28942923.

Lu J, Tucciarone J, Padilla-Coreano N, He M, Gordon JA, Huang ZJ. (2017) Selective inhibitory control of pyramidal neuron ensembles and cortical subnetworks by chandelier cells. Nat Neurosci. 2017 Oct;20(10):1377-1383. doi: 10.1038/nn.4624. Epub 2017 Aug 21. PubMed PMID: 28825718; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5614838.

Taniguchi H, Lu J, Huang ZJ. (2013) The spatial and temporal origin of chandelier cells in mouse neocortex. Science. 2013 Jan 4;339(6115):70-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1227622. Epub 2012 Nov 22. PubMed PMID: 23180771; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4017638.

Huang Lab Research

Brain circuits represent some of the most sophisticated and powerful computation networks, yet they self-assemble from a genetically programmed developmental process shaped by evolution. Across biological processes, from genomic encoding to developmental assembly to the brain functions that underlie behavior, the generation of diverse neuronal cell types is an essential step, as neuron types are the units of gene expression, building blocks of circuit assembly, and basic elements of circuit organization and operation. The overarching theme of our research program is to elucidate the genetic and cell type basis of cortical circuit assembly and function. Our research includes three broad and highly synergistic areas:

1) cell type genetic tools and technologies

2) molecular genetic programs of cell type specification and developmental trajectory

3) cell type and neural circuit basis of motor control and cognitive function

Our team consists of researchers and trainees with diverse background and technical expertise in molecular genetics, developmental biology, systems neuroscience, and engineering. We employ a wide range of approaches and technologies including: molecular and synthetic biology, mouse genetic engineering, single cell transcriptomics and epigenomics, viral vectors, mesoscopic and cellular imaging, electrophysiology, optogenetics, behavioral and computational analysis. To achieve our goals, we collaborate with other scientists, engineers, and physicians across disciplines from neuroscience to RNA biology, computational genomics, biomedical engineering, and neurology and neurosurgery.

Our research is supported by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the US BRAIN Initiative, and the NIH Directors Pioneer High-Risk High-Reward program. We are part of the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network(BICCN), where Josh Huang directs a U19 Comprehensive Center for Mouse Brain Cell Atlas.

 

Huang Lab Members

Senior Research Associate
Lab Manager
Research Technician II
Research Scientist
Associate in Research
Senior Research Associate, Huang Lab
Postdoctoral Associate, Huang Lab
George W. Brumley, Jr. M.D Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Postdoctoral Associate, Huang Lab
Postdoctoral Associate, Huang Lab
Postdoctoral Scholar, Huang Lab
Postdoctoral Associate, Huang Lab
Lab Affiliate
PhD Student in Biomedical Engineering
PhD Student in Biomedical Engineering
PhD Student in Cellular and Molecular Biology

Alumni

Joshua Hatfield

Former Research Tech III
Currently

William Galbavy

Former Lab Affiliate
Currently

Jiayun Li

Former ?
Currently

Ricardo Raudales

Former Lab Affiliate
Currently

Yongjun Qian

Former Postdoctoral Associate
Currently

Huang Lab Photos

Huang Lab at 2022 Retreat
4 photos of retreat poster session
more photos of retreat poster session

Huang Lab 5

Huang Lab 6

Huang Lab 7

CellREADR

CellREADR stands for Cell access through RNA sensing by Endogenous ADAR (adenosine deaminase acting on RNA), and represents a new generation of RNA-based cell monitoring and manipulation technology.

Visit CellREADR

Join us

We are recruiting talented and motivated Postdoctoral Fellows, Clinical/Physician Scientist Fellows, and PhD students with diverse backgrounds who are interested in any of the areas of our research program.

The Huang Lab is a recognized training lab in the following Duke PhD programs:

If you are interested, please email Josh Huang.