1. Review of Discipline History
The Developmental Biology discipline at Xuzhou Medical University was established in 2013 and is classified under the first-level discipline of biology. This field applies advanced techniques in molecular biology, cell biology, and genetics to explore the developmental processes and molecular mechanisms of organisms and to understand their connections to various diseases. This discipline is one of the most dynamic and challenging research areas in the life sciences as it is interpenetrated and interconnected with many basic medical disciplines.
Our university’s Developmental Biology discipline spans a broad spectrum of research, from basic science to clinical applications. The discipline of Developmental Biology in our university integrates multiple directions from basic research to clinical research, relying on the Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation and the Provincial Artificial Hearing Engineering Laboratory to carry out research work, and make positive contributions to the discipline construction and talent training of our university.
2. Main Research Direction of the Discipline
This discipline focuses on the molecular mechanisms of development and disease, with three main research directions as follows: (1) The developmental biological mechanisms of nerve regeneration, mainly focusing on the signal transduction mechanism of nerve regeneration cells and the molecular mechanisms of neural stem cell differentiation regulation. (2) intrauterine developmental abnormalities and diseases, to carry out basic and clinical research on development and hearing and balance disorders, to explore the molecular mechanism of auditory nerve apoptosis and the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. (3) The direction of neurodevelopment and pathogenesis of brain disease, focusing on the relationship between neurological diseases and development, research the molecular mechanism of synaptic plasticity in learning and memory, and the molecular mechanism of olfactory development.
3. Discipline Leader and Team Introduction
There are 14 staff members in this discipline, all of whom have doctoral degrees, including 2 professors, 7 associate professors, and 5 lecturers. There are 2 doctoral supervisors and 9 master supervisors. The discipline members were selected as 1 New Century talent of the Ministry of Education, 1 special professor of Jiangsu Province, 3 high-level talents training objects of the provincial "333 Project", 1 provincial "Six Major Talent Peaks", 4 provincial "Double Innovation Doctor", 1 academic leader of the provincial "Qinglan Project" science and technology innovation team, 1 young and middle-aged academic leader of the provincial "Qinglan Project", 2 outstanding young backbone of the provincial "Qinglan Project" teachers, 1 provincial "Qinglan Project" science and technology innovation team.
Introduction of Discipline Leader: Wei Liu, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Jiangsu Province, the academic backbone of Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation. Research direction: Molecular mechanism of neurodevelopment and disease mechanism of the nervous system. He has hosted over 1 project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 1 other provincial and departmental project, and 2 university-level projects. He has published 16 academic papers, including 7 SCI indexed papers as the first author in international academic journals such as Autophagy, Cell Death Differ and PLOS Genetics.
4. Scientific Research Status
In the past five years, this discipline has obtained 4 projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2 provincial and ministerial scientific research projects, and 2 municipal and departmental projects. The discipline published more than 20 SCI scientific research papers and won 1 provincial and ministerial science and technology progress award.
5. Strength of the Disciplinary Research Platform
The Developmental Biology discipline is affiliated with the Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation and the Jiangsu Provincial Artificial Hearing Engineering Laboratory, which provide a robust and comprehensive research infrastructure. The discipline benefits from a range of advanced research platforms, including proteomics, electrophysiology, animal behavior, molecular biology, genomics, morphology, protein purification and analysis, as well as a Drosophila culture and research platform. These platforms are equipped with cutting-edge instruments, such as live cell workstations, frozen micrographs, a ZEISS laser confocal microscope, an Olympus fluorescence inversion microscope system, flow cytometry, brain patch-clamp systems, multi-channel in vivo electrophysiological recording and analysis systems, and ultra-high-speed centrifuges, among other specialized equipment. With a total value exceeding 30 million yuan, these platforms ensure that both graduate students and faculty have the necessary resources to support their scientific research, fostering significant advancements in the field.
6. Situation of Discipline Talent Cultivation
This discipline places a strong emphasis on talent cultivation and conducts postgraduate training in strict adherence to the university's regulations. It actively fosters an environment conducive to scientific research, encouraging students to engage in research training while focusing on the development of their practical and innovative capabilities. The discipline offered include Developmental Biology, Biological Instrument Analysis, and Cell Engineering, among others. The faculty has contributed to the compilation of 3 teaching materials and has undertaken 2 provincial and university-level educational reform projects. Additionally, over 10 papers on education and teaching have been published.
The laboratory offers an exceptional teaching platform and outstanding faculty for undergraduate students majoring in Biotechnology and Biological Sciences at the newly established School of Life Sciences. The talented individuals trained within the discipline significantly enrich the School of Basic Medical Sciences and our university faculty, providing a strong academic backbone and leadership for university-level scientific research platforms such as Genetics and Medical Biotechnology. With the support of the key laboratory, the Biotechnology program was recognized as a first-class undergraduate major in Jiangsu Province in 2021, and in 2023, it was designated as an internationally recognized brand major and a demonstration program for school-industry integration. Furthermore, the Genetics and Medical Biotechnology technology platforms have become integral to the optimization, restructuring, and growth of the laboratory, significantly contributing to its ongoing development.
7. Disciplinary Social Services
The discipline is committed to serving economic and social development by actively contributing to the construction of local ecological civilization. It has established the "Industry-University-Research Collaborative Innovation Base" and the "Labor Education Practice Base" in partnership with the Yunlong Lake Scenic Spot in Xuzhou City. Through these initiatives, the discipline promotes scientific and technological cooperation, facilitates the transformation of research achievements, engages in science popularization efforts, and supports volunteer services.
8. Enrollment and Employment
Since 2014, the Developmental Biology discipline has enrolled 11 graduate students and successfully trained 8 graduates, maintaining an employment rate of 100%. The graduates primarily engage in scientific research, teaching, and research and development roles at biomedical companies, hospitals, universities, and other institutions, earning high recognition from their employers.
