CV
Pingchuan Ma, Ph.D.
Summary
Postdoc Research Fellow at Salk Institute for Biological Studies, studying neural dynamics using advanced optical imaging methods.
Education
- Ph.D. in Neuroscience, McDonnell Academy Scholarship2024-09Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
- Visiting Student2017-08Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Bachelor of Medicine, Merit-Based Medical Student Scholarships2016-07Peking University, Beijing, China
Work Experience
- Postdoc Fellow2025-01 - PresentSalk Institute for Biological Studies (Adam Bowman Lab)
- Developing a new type of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
- Applying specialized optical imaging methods and molecular voltage indicators for studying neural dynamics in visual circuits
- Combined training in optics instrumentation and neurobiology; co-advised by Adam Bowman (applied physicist) and Ed Callaway (neurobiologist, National Academy of Sciences member)
- Graduate Student2019-09 - 2024-10Washington University in St. Louis (Yao Chen Lab)Optical imaging and computational analysis for neurobiology studies
- Used in vivo optical imaging system and ex vivo two-photon microscope to study neuromodulator dynamics in the brain
- Studied brain slice physiology combining optical imaging, optogenetics, and electrophysiology
- Utilized implants for in vivo bio-signal and sleep behavior assays including optical fiber and EEG/EMG implants
- Built computational pipeline for imaging system simulation
- Performed protein engineering of molecular biosensors
- Research Associate2017-09 - 2018-07Southern University of Science and Technology, China (X.-J. Song Lab)Chronic pain and gut-brain axis
- Studied the interactions among neurons, immune system, and gut microbiota in the context of neurological disorders
- Utilized various disease models including nerve injury, diabetes, cancer, and chemotherapy-induced chronic pain models for molecular pathogenesis studies
- Developed therapeutic targets for chronic pain including cytoskeleton and amyloid-beta in the peripheral nervous system
- Student Research Assistant2016-09 - 2017-08Harvard Medical School (I. Chiu Lab)Neuroimmunology
- Studied the role of sensory neurons in host-defense of gut bacterial infections
- Explored the impact of gut microbiota on enteric neuron functions
- Student Research Assistant2014-09 - 2016-07Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking UniversityMolecular biology and pain medicine
- Studied the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain in peripheral sensory neurons
Publications
- Fundamental limits on fluorescence lifetime estimation using minimally distributed temporal gates2026
- Phasor EO-FLIM: Lifetime imaging with picosecond noise and 500 Hz frame rate2026bioRxivHu, L., Ma, P., Menon, V., Madhavan, A. S., Asahina, K., Müller, L. M., & Bowman, A. J. (2026).
- The promise and peril of comparing fluorescence lifetime in biology revealed by simulations2025
- Fast and slow: recording neuromodulator dynamics across both transient and chronic time scales2024Science Advances, 10(8), eadi0643Ma, P., Chen, P., Tilden, E., Aggarwal, S., Oldenborg, A., & Chen, Y. (2024).
- Spinal beta-amyloid1-42 acts as an endogenous analgesic peptide in CCI-induced neuropathic pain2022European Journal of Pain, 26(1), 133-142Cui, D., Li, Z. H., Li, C., Qiu, C., Ma, P., Wu, M., & Song, X. J. (2022).
- Gut microbiota depletion by antibiotics ameliorates somatic neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury, chemotherapy, and diabetes in mice2022Journal of Neuroinflammation, 19(1), 1-18Ma, P., Mo, R., Liao, H., Qiu, C., Wu, G., & Song, X. J. (2022).
- Role of matrix metalloproteinases in myelin abnormalities and mechanical allodynia in rodents with diabetic neuropathy2021Aging and Disease, 12(7), 1808Deng, X., Ma, P., Wu, M., Liao, H., & Song, X. J. (2021).
- Activation of EphB receptors contributes to primary sensory neuron excitability by facilitating Ca2+ influx directly or through Src kinase-mediated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor phosphorylation2020Pain, 161(7), 1584-1596Ma, P., Chen, P., Zhou, Z. L., Mo, R. F., Wu, M., & Song, X. J. (2020).
- Gut-innervating nociceptor neurons regulate Peyer's patch microfold cells and SFB levels to mediate Salmonella host defense2020CellLai, N. Y., Musser, M. A., Pinho-Ribeiro, F. A., Baral, P., Jacobson, A., Ma, P., ... & Chiu, I. M. (2020).
- Wnt signaling contributes to withdrawal symptoms from opioid receptor activation induced by morphine exposure or chronic inflammation2020
- Activation of ephrinB–EphB receptor signalling in rat spinal cord contributes to maintenance of diabetic neuropathic pain2017European Journal of Pain, 21(2), 278-288Deng, X. T., Wu, M. Z., Xu, N., Ma, P. C., & Song, X. J. (2017). doi: 10.1002/ejp.922
- Neuro-immune interactions in inflammation and host defense: Implications for transplantation2018American Journal of Transplantation, 18(3), 556-563Chavan, S. S., Ma, P., & Chiu, I. M. (2018).
- Inhibition of YAP/TAZ activity in spinal cord suppresses neuropathic pain2016The Journal of Neuroscience, 36(39), 10128-10140Xu, N., Wu, M. Z., Deng, X. T., Ma, P. C., ..., & Song, X. J. (2016).
- Wnt/Ryk signaling contributes to neuropathic pain by regulating sensory neuron excitability and spinal synaptic plasticity in rats2015Pain, 156(12), 2572-2584Liu, S., Liu, Y. P., Huang, Z. J., Zhang, Y. K., Song, A. A., Ma, P. C., & Song, X. J. (2015). doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000366
Presentations
- A theoretical framework for optical multiplexing of neuronal signals2025Society for Neuroscience Annual MeetingPoster presentation
- A theoretical framework for optical multiplexing of neuronal signals2025Salk Seaside SymposiumPoster presentation
- Shining A Light on Neuroscience: New Frontiers with Fluorescent Protein-Based Sensors20252025 Winter Conference on Brain ResearchPanel presentation
- Studying the dynamics of neuromodulators in the brain by fluorescence lifetime imaging2024Department of Medical Neuroscience, Southern University of Science and TechnologyOral presentation
- Beyond conventional wisdom: unveiling quantitative insights in fluorescence lifetime imaging via realistic simulation of biological systems2024Optics and the Brain conference (Optica)Poster presentation
- Fast and slow: Recording neuromodulator dynamics across both transient and chronic time scales2024Department of Neuroscience Research Talks, Washington University in St. LouisOral presentation
- Monitoring Neuromodulator Levels across Time and Animals by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging2023Biochemistry and Biophysics Community Science Friday, Washington University in St. LouisOral presentation
- Monitoring Neuromodulator Levels across Time and Animals with Optical Sensors2022Society for Neuroscience Annual MeetingPoster presentation
- Gut microbiota in chronic pain caused by peripheral nerve injury, cis-platin chemotherapy, and diabetes in mice2019Society for Neuroscience Annual MeetingPoster presentation
Teaching
- Principles of Neurobiology2019Washington University in St. LouisRole: Assistant Instructor
References
- Adam Bowman, Ph.D.Advisor; Salk Fellow, Salk Institute for Biological Studies; abowman@salk.edu
- Edward Callaway, Ph.D.Advisor; Professor, Salk Institute for Biological Studies; callaway@salk.edu
- Yao Chen, Ph.D.Thesis advisor; Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis; yaochen@wustl.edu
- Daniel Kerschensteiner, M.D.Thesis committee chair; Bernard Becker Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vice Chair for Research in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Co-Director of the Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Washington University in St. Louis; kerschensteinerd@wustl.edu
- Isaac Chiu, Ph.D.Research supervisor; Professor, Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School; isaac_chiu@hms.harvard.edu
- Xue-Jun Song, M.D., Ph.D.Research supervisor; Professor and Chair, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Southern University of Science and Technology; songxuejun@sustech.edu.cn