Yi-Jen Wu Lab
National Cheng Kung University
Institute of Clinical Medicine
Lab Principal Investigator
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
Resident, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital
Clinical Fellow, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital
Attending Neurologist, Div. of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch (2012-2015)
Attending Neurologist, Dept. of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital (2014-Present)
Academic Training and Appointments
Research Assistant, Brain and Behavior Laboratory, Medical Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan (Dr. Chiang-Shan Ray Li)
Undergraduate Student Research Program, funded by National Science Council, Department of Physiology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan (Professor Chin Hsu)
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
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
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (2018/2-2020/2)
Joint-Appointment Adjunct Assistant Professor, Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (2018/8-2020/2)
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)
Assistant Professor, Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (2020/2-2022/7)
Visiting Assistant 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)
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 (NCKUH-11310003, 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-present) [Handout] [Video]
NCKU OT/PT 3 Student: Neurology and General Medicine (2016-present) [Handout] [Video]
NCKU Med. 6 Student (Clerk): Introduction of Neurophysiological Studies (2015-present)
Graduate
NCKU ICM Master (M.D.), compulsory course: Seminar (2020-2022)
NCKU ICM Master, compulsory course: Seminar (2022-2024)
NCKU ICM Master/ PhD, elective course: Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience (2020-present)
NCKU IBMS, Special topics in neuroscience: Homeostasis and Seizures (2021-) [Handout]
NCKU ICM, Introduction to clinical common diseases: Introduction of Neurology (2021-) [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-)
Faculty Member of Education Committee, Taiwan Neurological Society (台灣神經學會教育委員會委員2021-)
Faculty Member of Education Committee, Taiwan Epilepsy Society (台灣癲癇醫學會教育委員會委員2021-23)
Faculty Member of Research & Development Committee, Taiwan Epilepsy Society (台灣癲癇醫學會研究發展委員會委員2023-)
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, Experimental Neurology, 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-), Administrative Member, Neuroscience Research Center, College of Medicine, NCKU (2024-)
Lab Honors
Lab PI, Dr. Yi-Jen Wu
1998 Undergraduate Academic Award, National Taiwan University
07/2004-02/2005 Undergraduate Research Proposal Funding, National Science Council
2004-2007 Yung-Yu Scholarship for Excellent Medical Students
2007 Best Intern, Kaohsiung Medical University
2010 Poster Presentation Award, Annual Conference of Taiwan Neurological Society
2011 Cross-Disciplinary Research Training Program for Cognitive Neuroscience, National Science Council
2012 Poster Award, Annual Conference of Taiwan Neurological Society
2013 Poster Award, Annual Conference of Taiwan Neurological Society
2015 International Conference Travel Fellowship Award, TIGP-INS, Neuroscience Program in Academia Sinica (NPAS)
2015 Poster Award, Annual Conference of Taiwan Neurological Society
2016 National Cheng Kung University Hospital Research Project Award (2015 Clinical/Basic Research Second Prize)
2016 Poster Award, Annual Conference of Taiwan Neurological Society
2017 National Cheng Kung University Hospital Research Project Award (2016 Clinical/Basic Research First Prize)
2017 Ph.D. Dissertation Award of College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University
2017 The Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society Honorary Membership
2018 Academic Paper Award, Cheng-Hsing Medical Foundation 成杏優秀論文獎
2021 NCKU Medical College Teaching Innovativeness Honorable Mention Award (109學年度成大醫學院教學創新團體佳作)
2021 Taiwan Epilepsy Society Research Paper Honorable Mention Award (2020年台灣癲癇學會癲癇研究論文獎佳作)
2021 Young Scholar Innovative Research Competition, Honorable Mention Award, Taiwan Comprehensive University System (110年台灣綜合大學系統年輕學者創新研發成果選拔佳作)
2022 Taiwan Epilepsy Society Research Paper Honorable Mention Award (2021年台灣癲癇學會癲癇研究論文獎佳作)
2022 Young Investigator Award for Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Science (全國兒童神經精神科學勵翔獎 臨床組第一名)
2022 Academic Paper Award, Cheng-Hsing Medical Foundation 成杏優秀論文獎 (Top 10% paper)
2021 Young Investigator Research Award in Clinical Medicine, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University (國立成功大學醫學院2021年新人最佳論文獎, 2023/1/30 announced)
Honors and Awards of Lab Students
2023/8/19 Dr. Ye-Ting Lin 林易廷 wins the third prize for the resident poster presentation at NCKUH Surgery Forum for the experimental work since his research gap year studying at our lab (2023/8/20).
2023/8/17 Lab student Yu-Chieh Huang 黄鈺絜 wins the First Prize at ICM Master's thesis proposal when she was doing her first-year master's studying. She moves directly to the PhD degree study at ICM starting this summer. Congratulations! (2023/8/18).
2023/6/20 Lab undergraduate student Te-Chih Hsu 徐得智 obtains Undergraduate Research Funding from National Science and Technology Council 國科會大專學生研究計畫 (2023/7-2024/2).
2023/2/11 Co-advised PhD student at ICM, Dr. Wen-Hao Yu 余文豪 wins the Second Prize for the research oral contest on 2023 Research Day of College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University.
2022/9/8 Lab undergraduate student Gia-Linh Hua 許嘉玲 wins the Second Prize at ICM undergraduate summer research contest.