Yi-Jen Wu Lab

Lab PI: Yi-Jen Wu 吳怡眞, MD, PhD.

Current Position

• Associate Professor, Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University

• ​Attending Neurologist, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University

Research Interests

We study the electrophysiology of seizure from unit spike activity, and populational local field potential to inter-regional synchronization.  Our work has been focused on the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying how electrical stimulations affect brain functions, and the therapeutic potential of electrical neuromodulations to treat brain disorders with aberrant hyperexcitability and circuitry such as seizure/epilepsy and cognitive disorders.  

 ​Research  Themes

• Neuromodulation effects and neurophysiology bases of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in seizure, epilepsy and cognition.

• Neuronal excitability, EEG oscillation, propagation, and synchrony underlying the pathophysiology of seizure and epilepsy.

• LF oscillation & HF synchrony in thalamohippocampal circuit, DCS/ACS, closed-loop stimulation, and epileptic network.  

• Neural and immunal modulation of VNS on brain and gut.

Research Tools

Direct/Alternating Current Stimulation by Transcranial Method (tDCS/tACS) or Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Electroencephalography (EEG), Stereotactic Operation, Rodent Disease Model, Biochemistry Assay, Immunofluorescence, Single Unit Recording, Local Field Potential, Evoked Potential, Paired Pulse Stimulation, Optogenetics 

Education

• M.D., Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University

• Ph.D., Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University

• ​B.S., Occupational Therapy, National Taiwan University

Licensure and Certification

• Neurology Board, Taiwan (2011-)

  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Parameter Setting Certificate (2021-)

• Physician Board, Taiwan (2007-)

• Occupational Therapist Registered/Licensed Certification, Taiwan

Clinical Training and Appointments

1. Resident, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital

2. Clinical Fellow, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital

3. Attending Neurologist, Div. of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch (2012-2015)

4. Attending Neurologist, Dept. of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital (2014-Present)

Academic Training and Appointments

1. Research Assistant, Brain and Behavior Laboratory, Medical Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan (Dr. Chiang-Shan Ray Li)

2. Undergraduate Student Research Program, funded by National Science Council, Department of Physiology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan (Professor Chin Hsu)

3. Visiting research member, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Central University, Taiwan (Professor Chi-Hung Juan), funded by the cross-disciplinary research training program for cognitive neuroscience, 2011, National Science Council

4. Visiting research member, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, UK (Prof. John Rothwell), funded by National Cheng Kung University Hospital

5. Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (2018/2-2020/2)

6. Joint-Appointment Adjunct Assistant Professor, Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (2018/8-2020/2)

7. ​​Visiting Assistant Professor, Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland (Professor Dominique M. Durand), funded by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (2019/3-5)

8. Assistant Professor, Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (2020/2-2022/7)

9. Visiting Associate Professor, Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland (Professor Dominique M. Durand), funded by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (2024/3-2025/2)

10. Associate Professor, Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (2022/8-Present)

Grant Support

• ​2013-2014   National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-10202008, PI)

• 2014-2015   National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-10307016, PI)

• 2015-2016   National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-10408016, PI)

• 2015-2016   Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST-104-2314-B-006-006, PI)

• 2016-2017   National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-10507024, PI)

• 2016-2018   Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST-105-2628-B-006-009-MY2, PI, 傑出學者養成計畫)

• 2017-2018   National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-10602005, PI)

• 2018-2019   National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-10702012, PI)

• 2018-2019   Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST-107-2314-B-006-052, PI)

• 2019-2020   National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-10802012, PI)

• 2019/3-5      Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST-108-2918-I-006-005, PI,國外短期研究)

• 2019-2022   Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST-108-2628-B-006-011, PI,優秀年輕學者研究計畫)

• 2021-2022   National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-11001003, Co-PI)

• 2022-2023   Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST-111-2314-B-006-100, PI)

• 2022-2024   National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (NSTC 111-2218-E-007-019, Co-PI)

• 2023/7-2024/12 National Cheng Kung University Hospital and University (Interdisciplinary Integration Project, NCKUH-11210003, PI)

• 2024-2025   Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (NSTC 113-2918-I-006-015, PI,國外短期研究)

• 2023-2026   Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (NSTC 112-2314-B-006 -061 -MY3, PI)

​Lecture

Undergraduate

• NCKU Med. 6 Student (Clerk): Neurology Clerkship Director (2016-2019) 

• NCKU Med. 6 Student (Clerk): Approach to the Patients with Neurological Disease (2015)

• NCKU ​Med. 5 Student: Seizure and Epilepsy (2017)

• ​NCKU MT. 3 Student: Introduction of Electroencephalography (2015-2024) [Handout]  [Video]

• NCKU OT/PT 3 Student: Neurology and General Medicine (2016-2024) [Handout] [Video]

• NCKU Med. 6 Student (Clerk): Introduction of Neurophysiological Studies (2015-2024)

  • Introduction of Clinical Neurophysiological Studies [Handout]

  • Introduction of Clinical Neurophysiological Studies (I/III): EEG [Video]

  • ​Introduction of Clinical Neurophysiological Studies (II/III): EP [Video]

  • ​​​Introduction of Clinical Neurophysiological Studies (III/III): NCS/EMG/RNST [Video]​

​​Graduate

• NCKU ICM Master (M.D.), compulsory course: Seminar (2020-2022, 2024-present)

• NCKU ICM Master, compulsory course: Seminar (2022-2024)

• NCKU ICM Master/ PhD, elective course: Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience (2020-present) 

  • Brain stereotaxic surgery, EEG, extracellular unit recording [Handout]

  • Brain neuromodulation: tDCS in disease animal models [Handout]

• NCKU IBMS, Special topics in neuroscience: Homeostasis and Seizures (2021-present) [Handout]

• NCKU ICM, Introduction to clinical common diseases: Introduction of Neurology (2021-present) [Handout]

• NCKU ICM, elective course: Special Topics in Epilepsy (2023-present) [Handout]

​

Service

Clinical

• General Neurology Outpatient Clinic, NCKUH

• Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic, NCKUH

• General Neurology Inpatient Care, NCKUH

• Clinical EEG examinations

​Society

• Board Member, Taiwan Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (台灣臨床神經生理學會理事2022/8-)

• Board Member, Tainan Epilepsy Association (台南癲癇之友協會理事2018/1-)

• Academic Committee Member, Taiwan Neurological Society (台灣神經學會學術委員會委員2025-present)

• Education Committee Member, Taiwan Neurological Society (台灣神經學會教育委員會委員2021-present)

• Research & Development Committee Member, Taiwan Epilepsy Society (台灣癲癇醫學會研究發展委員會委員2023-)

• Education Committee Member, Taiwan Epilepsy Society (台灣癲癇醫學會教育委員會委員2021-23)

• Member, Taiwan Neuroscience Society, Taiwan Epilepsy Society, Taiwan Society of Clinical Neurophysiology

• ​Member, Society for Neuroscience

• Member, American Epilepsy Society

​Academic

• Journal Reviewer: Journal of Biomedical Science, Neurotherapeutics, Experimental Neurology, Neuromodulation, Scientific Reports (Editorial Board Member, Neuroscience, 2023-),  Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, Frontiers in Neuroscience, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering, Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience.

• Grant Reviewer: National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Research Grants; National Science and Technology Council  (NSTC), Taiwan, Research Grants

• Committee: PhD Committee, IBMS, NCKU (2020-), PhD Non-thesis Proposal Committee, ICM, NCKU (2021-), Research & Development Committee, College of Medicine, NCKU (2022-2023), Administrative Member, Neuroscience Research Center, College of Medicine, NCKU (2024-)