Renjie Chai

CURRICULUM VITAE

RENJIE CHAI

Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University

Sipailou#2, Wenzheng Li Building, North R231

Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R.China, 210096

Phone: 18805193999, E-mail: renjiec@seu.edu.cn

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

2013.08- Current: Professor, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University

2009.05 – 2013.08: Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Alan Cheng’s laboratory, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, U.S.

 2004-2009: Ph.D. student, Research Assistant, Laboratory of Jiahuan DING, M.D. Ph.D. & Paul Grayburn, M.D., Institute of Metabolic Disease, Baylor University Medical Center

 2002-2004: Research Assistant, Laboratory of Yunyu SHI, Ph.D., School of Life Sciences, USTC

RESEARCH FOCUS:

       I have long standing interests in regenerative medicine, and now my research focus on the inner ear hair cell/spiral ganglion neuron regeneration and the regulation of inner ear stem cell/neural stem cell. My main research finding is to identify the Lgr5+ inner ear stem cell and use these cells to regenerate inner ear hair cells. Now my group is investigating the co-regulation mechanism of these inner ear stem cells, and we aim to regenerate the functional hair cells and partially recover hearing loss.

HONORS:

• 2016 National Outstanding Young Scientist Award,

• 2016 Ministry of Education, Yingdong Huo Outstanding Young Scientist Award

• 2015 National Thousands Young Talents Recruitment Program

• 2015 Jiangsu Province Outstanding Young Scientist Award,

• 2015 Jiangsu Province Creative Scientist Award

• 2013 Outstanding Young Teacher Award, Southeast University

• 2012 Exceptional Poster Award, 3nd Research Symposium, Dept. of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine.

• 2012 Postdoctoral Fellow Travel Award for 35th Annual ARO meeting

• 2011 Exceptional Poster Award, 2nd Research Symposium, Dept. of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine.

• 2011  Postdoctoral Fellow Travel Award for 34th Annual ARO meeting

• 2010  Dean’s Fellowship, Stanford University, School of Medicine

• 2008  Exceptional Poster Award, 6th Students Symposium of Baylor University

• 1999  The first prize in the national Olympics Contest of the Chemistry for high school students

ACADAMIC ACTIVITY:

• Member of ISSCR (International Society for Stem Cell Research)

• Member of ARO (Association for Research in Otolaryngology)

• IAPA (International Association of Physicians in Audiology), Board Member

• AJSC (American Journal of Stem Cells), Associate Editor

• AJTR（American Journal of Translational Research）, Editorial Board Member

• Frontiers of Medicine, Editorial Board Member

• OHBM（Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing and Balance Medicine）, Editorial Board Member

• Neural Plasticity, Lead Guest Editor

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Sana Shaikh, Fawad Rehman, Tianyu Du, Hui Jiang, Lihong Yin, Xuemei Wang*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）. Real-time Multimodal Bioimaging of Cancer Cells and Exosomes through Biosynthesized Iridium and Iron Nanoclusters.ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b08975, 2018

2. Wenwen Liu, Xiaochen Xu, Zhaomin Fan, Gaoying Sun, Yuechen Han, Daogong Zhang, Lei Xu, Mingming Wang, Xue Wang, Shasha Zhang, Mingliang Tang, Jianfeng Li, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Haibo Wang*.Wnt Signaling Activates TP53-Induced Glycolysis and Apoptosis Regulator and Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Spiral Ganglion Neuron Damage in the Mouse Cochlea. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, doi: 10.1089/ars.2017.7288,2018

3. Ao Li#, Dan You#, Wenyan Li#,, Yingjie Cui, Yingzi He, Wen Li, Yan Chen, Xiao Feng, Mingliang Tang, Shan Sun*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. Novel compounds protect auditory hair cells against gentamycin-induced apoptosis by maintaining the expression level of H3K4me2. Drug Delivery, 25(1):1033-1043, 2018

4. Chengwen Zhu#, Cheng Cheng#, Yanfei Wang, Waqas Muhammad,Shuang Liu, Weijie Zhu, Buwei Shao, Zhong Zhang, Xiaoqian Yan, Qingqing He, Zhengrong Xu, Chenjie Yu, Xiaoyun Qian, Ling Lu, Shasha Zhang, Yuan Zhang,Wei Xiong, Xia Gao* , Zhigang Xu*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）. Loss of ARHGEF6 Causes Hair CellStereocilia Deficits and Hearing Lossin Mice. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11:362, 2018

5. He Li#, Yongdong Song#, Zuhong He, Xiaoyun Chen, Xianmin Wu,Xiaofei Li, Xiaohui Bai, Wenwen Liu, Boqin Li, Shanshan Wang,Yuechen Han, Lei Xu, Daogong Zhang, Jianfeng Li, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Haibo Wang*, Zhaomin Fan*. Meclofenamic acid reduces reactive oxygen species accumulation and apoptosis, inhibits excessive autophagy, and protects hair cell-like HEI-OC1 cells from cisplatin-induced damage. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 12:129, 2018

6. Yanping Zhang#, Luo Guo#, Xiaoling Lu, Cheng Cheng, Yan Chen, Shan Sun, Wen Li, Liping Zhao, Chuijin Lai, Shasha Zhang, Chenjie Yu, Mingliang Tang, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. Characterization of Lgr6+ cells as an enriched population of hair cell progenitors compared to Lgr5+ cells for hair cell generation in the neonatal mousecochlea. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11:147, 2018

7. Dan You#, Luo Guo#, Wenyan Li#, Shan Sun*, Yan Chen, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*.Characterization of Wnt and Notch-responsive Lgr5+ hair cell progenitors in the striolar region of the neonatal mouse utricle. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11:137, 2018

8. Zuhong He, Qiaojun Fang, Muhammad Waqas, Xia Wu, Cheng Cheng, Li He, Yu Sun, Wei-Jia Kong *, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）.Role of autophagy in auditory system development and survival.Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing and Balance Medicine（OHBM）, 1, 7, 2018  

9. Zhongmin Liu#, Mingliang Tang#, Jinping Zhao, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Jiuhong Kang*. Looking into the Future: Towards Advanced Three-Dimensional Biomaterials for Stem Cell-Based Regenerative Medicine. Advanced Materials, 1705388, 2018

10. Luoran Shang, Yunru Yu, Wei Gao, Yuetong Wang, Liangliang Qu, Ze Zhao, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Yuanjin Zhao*. Bio-inspired Anisotropic Wettability Surface from Dynamic Ferrofluid Assembled Templates. Advanced Functional Materials, 1705802, 2018

11. Yan Chen#, Xiaoling Lu#, Luo Guo#, Wenli Ni, Yanping Zhang, Liping Zhao, Lingjie Wu, Shan Sun, Mingliang Tang, Wenyan Li*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*.Hedgehog signaling promotes the proliferation and subsequent hair cell formation of progenitor cells in the neonatal mouse cochlea. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10:426, 2017

12. Yanfei Wang, Jie Li, Xuerui Yao, Wei Li, Haibo Du, Mingliang Tang, Wei Xiong, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Zhigang Xu*.Loss of CIB2 causes profound hearing loss and abolishes mechanoelectrical transduction in mice. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10:401, 2017

13. Zuhong He#, Lingna Guo#, Yilai Shu#, Qiaojun Fang, Han Zhou, Yongze Liu, Dingding Liu, Ling Lu, Xiaoli Zhang, Xiaoqiong Ding, Dong Liu, Mingliang Tang, Weijia Kong, Suhua Sha, Huawei Li*, Xia Gao*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）. Autophagy protects auditory hair cells against neomycin-induced damage. Autophagy, 2:1-21, 2017

14. Jie Gong#, Xin Wang#, Chenwen Zhu, Xiaohua Dong, Qinxin Zhang, Xiaoning Wang, Xuchu Duan, Fuping Qian, Yunwei Shi, Yu Gao, Qingshun Zhao*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Dong Liu*. Insm1a Regulates Motor Neuron Development in Zebrafish. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10:274, 2017

15. Yingzi He#, Xiaoling Lu#, Fuping Qian#, Dong Liu, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. Insm1a is required for zebrafish posterior lateral line development. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10:241, 2017

16. Shasha Zhang, Yuan Zhang, Pengfei Yu, Yao Hu, Han Zhou, Lingna Guo, Xiaochen Xu, Xiaocheng Zhu, Muhammad Waqas, Jieyu Qi, Xiaoli Zhang, Xiaoyun Qian, Fangyi Chen, Mingliang Tang, Yan Liu, Haibo Shi*, Xia Gao*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）. Characterization of Lgr5+ progenitor cell transcriptomes after neomycin injury in the neonatal mouse cochleae.Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10:213, 2017

17. Muhammad Waqas#, Shan Sun#, Chuanyin Xuan, Qiaojun Fang, Xiaoli Zhang, Irum-us Islam, Jieyu Qi, Shasha Zhang, Xiaoyun Qian, Xia Gao, Mingliang Tang, Haibo Shi*, Huawei Li*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 promotes the survival and preserves the structure of flow-sorted Bhlhb5+ cochlear spiral ganglion neurons in vitro. Scientific Reports, 7(1):3506, 2017

18. Cheng Cheng#, Luo Guod#, Ling Lu#, Xiaochen Xu, ShaSha Zhang, Junyan Gao, Muhammad Waqas, Chengwen Zhu, Yan Chen, Xiaoli Zhang, Chuanying Xuan, Xia Gao, Mingliang Tang, Fangyi Chen, Haibo Shi*, Huawei Li *, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）. Characterization of the transcriptomes of Lgr5+ hair cell progenitors and Lgr5− supporting cells in the mouse cochlea. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 10:122, 2017

19. Shiyi Yu#, Xiuxiu Cai#, Chenxi Wu#, Yan Liu#, Jun Zhang#, Xue Gong, Xin Wang, XiaoliWu, Tao Zhu, Lin Mo, Jun Gu, Zhenghong Yu*, Jinfei Chen*, Jean Paul Thiery*,Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Liming Chen*.Targeting HSP90-HDAC6 Regulating Network Implicates Precision Treatment of Breast Cancer. International Journal of Biological Sciences,13(4): 505-517, 2017

20. Wenqing Yan#, Wenwen Liu#, Jieyu Qi, Qiaojun Fang, Zhaomin Fan, Gaoying Sun, Yuechen Han, Daogong Zhang, Lei Xu, Mingming Wang, Jianfeng Li, Fangyi Chen, Dong Liu*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Haibo Wang*. A Three-Dimensional Culture System with Matrigel Promotes Purified Spiral Ganglion Neuron Survival and Function In Vitro.Molecular Neurobiology, doi: 10.1007/s12035-017-0471-0, 2017

21. Renjie Chai*（Corresponding）, Geng-Lin Li, Jian Wang, and Jing Zou. Hearing Loss: Reestablish the Neural Plasticity in Regenerated Spiral Ganglion Neurons and Sensory Hair Cells. Neural Plasticity,DOI: 10.1155/2017/1807581, 2017 (Editorial Article)

22. Xiaoyu Yu, Wenwen Liu, Zhaomin Fan, Fuping Qian, Daogong Zhang, Yuechen Han, Lei Xu, Gaoying Sun, Jieyu Qi, Shasha Zhang, Mingliang Tang, Jianfeng Li*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Haibo Wang*. c-Myb knockdown increases the neomycin-induced damage to hair-cell-like HEI-OC1 cells in vitro. Scientific Reports, 7:41094, 2017

23. Ming Guan, Qiaojun Fang, Zuhong He, Yong Li, Fuping Qian, Xiaoyun Qian, Ling Lu, Xiaoli Zhang, Dingding Liu, Jieyu Qi, Shasha Zhang, Mingliang Tang, Xia Gao*,Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）. Inhibition of ARC decreases the survival of HEI-OC-1 cells after neomycin damage in vitro. Oncotargets, DOI: 10.18632, 11336, 2016

24. Rongrong Guo#, Shasha Zhang#, Miao Xiao, Fuping Qian, Zuhong He, Dan Li, Xiaoli Zhang,  Huawei Li, Xiaowei Yang, Ming Wang, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Mingliang Tang*.Accelerating bioelectric functional development of neural stem cells by graphene coupling: Implications for neural interfacing with conductive materials. Biomaterials, 106:193-204. 2016

25. Yan Chen#, Wenyan Li#, Wen Li, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*.Spatiotemporal expression of Ezh2 in the developing mouse cochlear sensory epithelium. Frontiers of Medicine. 10(3): 330–335, 2016

26. Zhuhong He#, Shasha Zhang#, Qin Song, Wenyan Li, Dong Liu, Huawei Li, Mingliang Tang*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）.The structural development of primary cultured hippocampal neurons on a graphene substrate. Colloids and surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 146:442-451., 2016

27. Muhammad Waqas#, Shasha Zhang#, Zuhong He, Mingliang Tang*, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）.Role of Wnt and Notch signaling in regulating hair cell regeneration in the cochlea.Frontiers of Medicine. 10(3): 237–249, 2016

28. Wenli Ni#, Shan Zeng#, Wenyan Li, Yan Chen, Shasha Zhang, Mingliang Tang, Shan Sun, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*.Wnt Activation Followed by Notch Inhibition Promotes Mitotic Hair Cell Regeneration in the Postnatal Mouse Cochlea.Oncotargets, doi: 10.18632, 2016

29. Zuhong He#, Shan Sun#, Muhammad Waqas, Xiaoli Zhang, Fuping Qian, Cheng Cheng, Mingshu Zhang, Shasha Zhang, Yongming Wang, Mingliang Tang, Huawei Li *, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）. Reduced TRMU expression increases the sensitivity of hair-cell-like HEI-OC-1 cells to neomycin damage in vitro.Scientific Reports, 6:29621. 2016

30. Jingfang Wu# , Wenyan Li#, Chen Lin, Yan Chen, Cheng Cheng, Shan Sun, Mingliang Tang,Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. Co-regulation of the Notch and Wnt signaling pathways promotes supporting cell proliferation and hair cell regeneration in mouse utricles. Scientific Reports, 6:29418. 2016

31. Wenyan Li#, Dan You#, Yan Chen, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. Regeneration of hair cells in the mammalian vestibular system.Frontiers of Medcine. 2016 May 17. 

32. Yingying Zha#, Renjie Chai#（Co-First）, Qin Song, Lin Chen, Xin-Xing Wang, Guosheng Cheng, Mingliang Tang*, Ming Wang*. Characterization and toxicological effects of three-dimensional graphene foams in rats in vivo.Journal of Nanoparticle Research 18(5) · May 2016

33. Muhammad Waqas#, Luo Guo#, Shasha Zhang, Yan Chen, Xiaoli Zhang, Lei Wang, Mingliang Tang, Haibo Shi, Phillip I. Bird, Huawei Li*, Renjie Chai* (Co-Corresponding）.Characterization of Lgr5+ progenitor cell transcriptomes in the apical and basal turns of the mouse cochlea. Oncotarget, doi:10.18632, 2016

34. Liman Liu#, Yan Chen#, Jieyu Qi Yanping Zhang, Yingzi He, Wenli Ni, Wen Li, Shasha Zhang, Shan Sun, Makoto Taketo, Lei Wang, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. Wnt activation protects against neomycin-induced hair cell damage in the mouse cochlea.Cell Death & Disease, doi:10.1038/cddis.2016.35, 2016

35. Xiaoling Lu#, Shan Sun#, Jieyu Qi, Wenyan Li, Liman Liu, Yanping Zhang, Yan Chen, Shasha Zhang, Lei Wang, Dengshun Miao, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. Bmi1 regulates the proliferation of cochlear supporting cells via the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Molecular Neurobiology, doi: 10.1007/s12035-016-9686-8, 2016

36. Xin Wang, Chang Chun Ling, Liping Li, Yinyin Qin, Jialing Qi, Xiaoyu Liu, Bo You, Yunwei Shi, Jie Zhang, Qiu Jiang, Hui Xu, Cheng Sun, Yiwen You, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Dong Liu*. MicroRNA-10a/10b represses a novel target gene mib1 to regulate angiogenesis. Cardiovascular Research, cvw023, 2016

37. Gaoying Sun#, Wenwen Liu#, Zhaomin Fan, Daogong Zhang,1Yuechen Han, Lei Xu, Jieyu Qi, Shasha Zhang, Bradley T. Gao, Xiaohui Bai, Jianfeng Li, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）,Haibo Wang*. The Three-Dimensional Culture System with Matrigel and Neurotrophic Factors Preserves the Structure and Function of Spiral Ganglion Neuron In Vitro. Neural Plasticity, Article ID 4280407, 2016

38. Yingzi He#, Muhammad Waqas#, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. Epigenetic and Signaling Pathway Regulation in Hair Cell Regeneration. Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Vol. 1 No. 1:6, 2015

39. Xueqian Wang#, Xin Wang#, Wei Yuan, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Dong Liu*. Egfl6 is involved in zebrafish notochord development.Fish Physiol Biochem., 41(4):961-9, 2015

40. Tian Wang#, Renjie Chai#（Co-First）, Grace Kim, Nicole Pham, Lina Jansson, Duc-Huy Nguyen, Bryan Kuo,Lindsey May, Jian Zuo, Lisa Cunningham, Alan Cheng*.Damage-Recruited Lgr5+ Cells Regenerate Hair Cells via Proliferation and Direct Transdifferentiationin Neonatal Mouse Utricle. Nature Communications, 7;6:6613, 2015

41. Shan Sun#, Mingzhi Sun#, Yanping Zhang, Cheng Cheng, Muhammad Waqas, Huiqian Yu, Yingzi He, Bo Xu, Lei Wang, Jian Wang, Shankai Yin, Renjie Chai*（Co-Corresponding）, Huawei Li*. In vivo overexpression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein protects against neomycin-induced hair cell loss in the apical turn of the cochlea during the ototoxic-sensitive period.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 8:248, 2014

42. Brandon Cox#, Renjie Chai#（Co-First）, Anne Lenoir, Zhiyong Liu, LingLi Zhang, Duc-Huy Nguyen, Kavita Chalasani, Katherine Steigelman Jie Fang, Alan Cheng*, Jian Zuo*. Spontaneous hair cell regeneration in the neonatal mouse cochlea in vivo.Development, 141,816-29, 2014

43. Taha Jan#, Renjie Chai#（Co-First）, Zahra Sayyid, Renée Amerongen, Anping Xia, Tian Wang, Saku Sinkkonen, Yi Zeng, Jared Levin, Stefan Heller, Roel Nusse*, Alan Cheng*.  Tympanic border cells are Wnt-responsive and act as progenitors for postnatal mouse cochlear cells. Development,140, 1196-1206, 2013

44. Renjie Chai#, Bryan Kuo#, Tian Wang, Eric Liaw, Anping Xia, Taha Jana, Zhiyong Liu, Makoto M. Taketo, John Oghalai, Roeland Nusse, Jian Zuo*, Alan Cheng*. Wnt signaling induces proliferation of sensory precursors in the postnatal mouse cochlea. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 109(21):8167-72, 2012

45. Renjie Chai, Anping Xia, Taha Jan, Toshinori Hayashi, Oliva Bermingham-McDonogh, Alan Cheng*. Dynamic expression of Lgr5, a Wnt target gene, in the developing and mature mouse inner ear. Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (JARO), 12(4):455-69, 2011

46. Renjie Chai#, Shuyuan Chen#, Jiahuan. Ding*, Paul Grayburn*. Efficient, Glucose Responsive, and Islet-Specific Transgene Expression by a Modified Rat Insulin Promoter. Gene Therapy, 16, 1202–1209, 2009

47. Xin Wang#, Wei Yuan#, Xueqian Wang#, Jialing Qi, Yinyin Qin, Yunwei Shi, Jie Zhang, Jie Gong, Zhangji Dong, Xiaoyu Liu, Chen Sun, Renjie Chai, Ferdinand le Noble, Dong Liu*. The somite-secreted factor Maeg promotes zebrafish embryonic angiogenesis. Oncotarget. 7(47):77749-77763, 2016

48. Yimeng Li, Ao Li, Jingfang Wu, Yingzi He, Huiqian Yu, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li*. MiR-182-5p protects inner ear hair cells from cisplatin-induced apoptosis by inhibiting FOXO3a.Cell Death & Disease, 7(9):e2362, 2016

49. Xiaolong Fu, Xiaoyang Sun, Linqing Zhang, Yecheng Jin, Renjie Chai, Lili Yang, Aizhen Zhang, Xiangguo Liu, Xiaochun Bai, Jianfeng Li, Haibo Wang*, Jiangang Gao*.Tuberous sclerosis complex–mediated mTORC1 overactivation promotes age-related hearing loss. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 98058, 2018

50.  Zhou Yu, KaijuJiang, Zijian Xu, Huanwei Huang, Nannan Qian, Zhiwei Lu, Daoming Chen, Ruonan Di, Tianyi Yuan, Zhenhai Du, Wei Xie, Xiaoling Lu, Huawei Li, Renjie Chai, Yong Yang, Bing Zhu, Tetsuo Kunieda, Fengchao Wang*, Ting Chen*. Hoxc-Dependent Mesenchymal Niche Heterogeneity Drives Regional Hair Follicle Regeneration. Cell Stem Cell, S1934-5909(18)30352-7,2018

51. Qianqian Chen, Yizhou Quan, Naitao Wang, Chengying Xie, Zhongzhong Ji, Hao He, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li, Shankai Yin, Y. Eugene Chin, Xunbin Wei, * and Wei-Qiang Gao* Inactivation of STAT3 Signaling Impairs Hair Cell Differentiation in the Developing Mouse Cochlea. Stem Cell Reports, S2213-6711(17)30238-2, 2017

52. Limeng Li, Ao Li, Jingfang Wu, Yingzi He, Huiqian Yu, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li*. MiR-182-5p protects inner ear hair cells from cisplatin-induced apoptosis by inhibiting FOXO3a. Cell Death & Disease, 7(9):e2362, 2016

53. Wenli Ni#, Chen Lin#, Luo Guo, Jingfang Wu, Yan Chen, Renjie Chai, Wenyan Li*, Huawei Li*.Extensive supporting cell proliferation and mitotic hair cell generation by in vivo genetic reprogramming in the neonatal mouse cochlea. Journal of Neuroscience, 17;36(33):8734-45, 2016

54. Dongmei Tang, Qin Lin, Yingzi He, Renjie Chai,Huawei Li*. Inhibition of H3K9me2 Reduces Hair Cell Regeneration after Hair Cell Loss in the Zebrafish Lateral Line by Down-Regulating the Wnt and Fgf Signaling Pathways. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 9:39. 2016

55. Yingzi He, Dongmei Tang, Wenyan Li, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li*. Histone deacetylase 1 is required for the development of the zebrafish inner ear. Scientific Reports, 6:16535, 2016

56.  Ruizhi Feng, Qing Sang, Yanping Kuang, Xiaoxi Sun, Zheng Yan, Shaozhen Zhang, Juanzi Shi, Guoling Tian, Anna Luchniak, Yusuke Fukuda, Bin Li, Min Yu, Junling Chen, Yao Xu, Luo Guo, Ronggui Qu, Xueqian Wang, Zhaogui Sun, Miao Liu, Huijuan Shi, Hongyan Wang, Yi Feng, Ruijin Shao, Renjie Chai, Qiaoli Li, Qinghe Xing, Rui Zhang, Eva Nogales, Li Jin, Lin He, Mohan Gupta, Nicholas Cowan*, Lei Wang*. Mutations in TUBB8 and Human Oocyte Meiotic Arrest. The New England Journal of Medicine, 374:223-32, 2016

57. Yingzi He, Zhengmin Wang, Shaoyang Sun, Dongmei Tang, Wenyan Li, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li*. HDAC3 Is Required for Posterior Lateral Line Development in Zebrafish.Molecular Neurobiology, 2015

58. Xiuhua Chao, Zhaoming Fan, Yuecheng Han, Jianfeng Li, Renjie Chai, Lei Xu, Haibo Wang*. Effects of local application of methylprednisolone delivered by the C/GP-hydrogel on the recovery of facial nervesActa Otolaryngol. 2135(11):1178-84, 2015

59. Yingzi He, Dongmei Tang, Cunfu Cai, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li*. LSD1 is Required for Hair Cell Regeneration in Zebrafish. Molecular Neurobiology, 2015

60. Honglin Mei, Shan Sun, Yan Bai, Yan Chen,Renjie Chai, Huawei Li*. Reduced mtDNA copy number increases the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Cell Death & Disease 6:e1710, 2015

61. Ruizhi Feng, Qing Sang, Yan Zhu, Wei Fu, Miao Liu, Yan Xu, Huijuan Shi, Yao Xu, Ronggui Qu, Renjie Chai, Ruijin Shao, Li Jin, Lin He, Xiaoxi Sun, Lei Wang*. MiRNA-320 in the human follicular fluid is associated with embryo quality in vivo and affects mouse embryonic development in vitro. Scientific Reports, 5:8689, 2015

62. Wenyan Li, Jinfang Wu, Jianming Yang, Shan Sun, Renjie Chai, Zhengyi Chen*, Huawei Li*.Notch inhibition inducesmitoticallygenerated hair cells in mammalian cochleae via activating the Wnt pathway.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 112(1):166-71, 2015

63. Yan Chen, Linhui Li, Wenli Ni, Yanping Zhang, Shan Sun, Dengshun Miao, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li*.Bmi1 regulates auditory hair cell survival by maintaining redox balance.Cell Death & Disease, 6:e1605, 2015

64. Yingzi He, Huiqian Yu, Chengfu Cai, Shan Sun, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li* Inhibition of H3K4me2 Demethylation Protects Auditory Hair Cells from Neomycin-Induced Apoptosis.Molecular Neurobiology, 52(1):196-205, 2015

65. Shan Sun, Huiqian Yu, Honglin Mei, Wenli Ni, Yanping Zhang, Luo Guo, Yingzi He, Zhen Xue, Yusu Ni, Jin Li, Yi Feng, Yan Chen, Ruijin Shao, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li*. Inhibition of the Activation and Recruitment of Microglia-Like Cells Protects Against Neomycin-Induced Ototoxicity.Molecular Neurobiology, 51:252-267, 2015

66. David Chang, Renjie Chai, Rebecca DiMarco, Sarha Heilshorn, Alan Cheng*. Protein-Engineered Hydrogel Encapsulation for 3D Culture of Murine Cochlea. Otology & Neurotology, 36(3):531-538, 2015

67. Qing Sang, Junyu Zhang, Ruizhi Feng, Xu Wang, Qiaoli Li, Xinzhi Zhao, Qinghe Xing, Weiyu Chen, Jiulin Du, Shan Sun, Renjie Chai, Dong Liu, Li Jin, Lin He, Huawei Li* , L. Wang*. Ildr1b is essential for semicircular canal development, migration of the posterior lateral line primordium, and hearing ability in zebrafish: Implications for a role in the recessive hearing impairment DFNB42. Human Molecular Genetic, 23(23):6201-11, 2014

68. Wenqing Yan, Jianfeng Li, Renjie Chai, Wentao Guo, Lei Xu, Yuechen Han, Xiaohui Bai*, Haibo Wang*. Combining Use of Captopril and Losartan Attenuates the Progress of Streptococcus pneumoniae-Induced Tympanosclerosis through the Suppression of TGF-β1 Expression.PLoS One,9(10):e111620, 2014

69. Xiaohui Bai, Huaiqing Lv, Fengguo Zhang, Jinzhi Liu, Zhaomin Fan, Lei Xu, Yuhang Han, Renjie Chai, Jianfeng Li*, H. Wang*. Identification of a novel missense mutation in the WFS1 gene as a cause of autosomal dominant nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in all-frequencies.Am J Med Genet A, 164,(12):3052-60, 2014

70. Xiaodong Gu, Luo Guo, Hantin Ji, Shan Sun, Renjie Chai, Lei Wang, Huawei Li*. Genetic testing for sporadic hearing loss using targeted massively parallel sequencing identifies 10 novel mutations.Clinical Genetics, 2014

71. Stefan Volkenstein, Kazuo Oshima, Saku Sinkkonen, Eduardo Corrales, Sam Most, Renjie Chai, Taha Jan, Alan Cheng, Stefan Heller*. Transient, afferent input-dependent, postnatal niche for neural progenitor cells in the cochlear nucleus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 110(35):14456-61, 2013

72.  Andrew Vu, Garani Nadaraja, Markus Huth, Lauren Luk, John Kim, Renjie Chai, Anthony Ricc*, Alan Cheng*. Integrity and regeneration of mechanotransduction machinery regulates aminoglycoside entry and sensory cell death. Plos One, 8(1):e54794, 2013

73.  Saku Sinkkonen, Renjie Chai, Taha Jan, Byron Hartman, Roman Laske, Felix Gahlen, Wera Sinkkonen, Alan Cheng, Kazuo Oshima, Stefan Heller*.  Intrinsic regenerative potential of murine cochlear supporting cells.Scientific Reports,1, 26, 2011

74. Taha Jan, Renjie Chai, Zahra Sayyid, Alan Cheng*. Isolating LacZ-expressing cells from mouse inner ear tissues using flow cytometry. Journal of Visualized Experiments, (58), e3432, 2011

POSTER OR PRESENTATION ON CONFERENCE:

PRESENTATION:

1. Chai R .^#, Kuo B., Jan T., Liaw E., Wang T., Xia A., Nusse R., Zuo J., Cheng A. *.Wnt Signaling Regulates Cell Fate of Lgr5+ve Hair Cell Precursors in the Postnatal Mouse Cochlea. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 35th Annual Meeting at San Deigo, Feb 25-29,2012

2. Chai R .^#, Tong L., Cox B., Chalasani K., Wang T., Xue A., Nookala V., Huang G., Pham X., Zuo J., Rubel E., Cheng A. *. Lineage tracing reveals supporting cells contributing to hair cell regeneration in the neonatal mouse cochlea in vivo。 The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 36th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb 16-20,2013

3. Chai R.*, He Z., Zhang S., Xie W., Tang M.,The structural development of primary cultured neurons on a graphene substrate.The 6th China-Australia Joint SymposiumOn Energy & Biomedical Materials at Suzhou, China; Jan. 6-9, 2016,

4. Muhammad Waqas, Luo Guo, Shasha Zhang, Yan Chen, Xiaoli Zhang, Lei Wang, Mingliang Tang, Haibo Shi, Phillip I. Bird, Huawei Li, Renjie Chai*.Characterization of Lgr5+ progenitor cell transcriptomes in the apical and basal turns of the mouse cochlea. The Inner Biology 53^th Annual Meeting at Montpelier, France. Sep. 17-21, 2016

POSTER:

5. Renjie Chai^#, Cheng Cheng, Luo Guo, Haibo Shi, ShaSha Zhang, Muhammad Waqas, Chengwen Zhu, Yan Chen, Xiaoli Zhang, Xia Gao, Mingliang Tang, Huawei Li. Characterization of the transcriptomes of Lgr5+ hair cell progenitors and Lgr5− supporting cells in the mouse cochlea. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 40th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 11-15, 2017

6. Renjie Chai^#, Zuhong He, Shan Sun, Muhammad Waqas, Xiaoli Zhang, Fuping Qian, Cheng Cheng, Mingshu Zhang, Shasha Zhang, Yongming Wang, Mingliang Tang, Huawei Li. Reduced TRMU expression increases the sensitivity of hair-cell-like HEI-OC-1 cells to neomycin damage in vitro.The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 40th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 11-15, 2017

7. Renjie Chai^#, Ming Guan, Qiaojun Fang, Zuhong He, Yong Li, Fuping Qian, Xiaoyun Qian, Ling Lu, Xiaoli Zhang, Dingding Liu, Jieyu Qi, Shasha Zhang, Mingliang Tang, Xia Gao. Inhibition of ARC decreases the survival of HEI-OC-1 cells after neomycin damage in vitro.The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 40th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 11-15, 2017

8. Chai R .^#, Lu X., Sun S., Li W., Chen Y., Wang L., Li H., Bmi1 regulates the proliferation of cochlear supporting cells via the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.The Inner Biology 52^th Annual Meeting at Rome Italy. Sep. 12-15, 2015

9. Chai R .^#, Liu L., Chen Y., Zhang Y., He Y., Ni W., You D., Sun S., Taketo M., Wang L., Li H., Wnt activation protects against neomycin-induced hair cell damage in the mouse cochlea.The Inner Biology 58^th Annual Meeting at Rome Italy. Sep. 12-15, 2015

10. Chai R .^#, Kim G., Wang T., Pham N., Nguyen D., Cheng A., In Vivo Hair Cell Ablation Recruits Lgr5+ Progenitor Cells to Mitotically Regenerate Hair Cells in Neonatal Mouse Utricle The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 38th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 21-25, 2015

11. Sun S., Sun M., Zhang Y., Waqas M., Yu H., He Y., Yin S., Wang J., ChaiR., Li H., Overexpression of X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein Protects Against Neomycin-induced Hair Cell Loss The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 38th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 21-25, 2015

12. Jansson L., Chai R., Shen J., Najarro E., Nguyen D., Cheng A., Lgr6 is a Novel Marker of Developing Inner Pillar Cells The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 38th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 21-25, 2015

13. Kim G., Chai R., Wang T., Pham N., Nguyen D., Cheng A., Modulation of Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Enhances Mitotic Hair Cell Regeneration from Damage-recruited Lgr5+ Cells The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 38th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 21-25, 2015

14. Chai R .^#, Sun S., Sun M., Zhang Y., Cheng C., Waqas M., Yu H., He Y., Xu B., Yi S., Li H. *, In vivo overexpression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein protects against neomycin-induced hair cell loss in the apical turn of the cochlea during the ototoxic-sensitive period.The Inner Biology 57^th Annual Meeting at Tokyo. Nov. 1-4, 2014

15. Wang T., Chai R., Pham X., May L., Nookala V., Huang G., Cunningham L., Cheng A. *, Identification of Damage-Recruited Lgr5+ Hair Cell Progenitors The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 36th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 16-20, 2013

16. Kuo B., Bladwin E., Chai R., Liu Z., Taketo M., Cheng A., Zuo J. *,. Lgr5+ Supporting Cells proliferation and Hair cell Transdifferentation in Response to Wnt/β-Catenin and Atoh1 expression in the Postnatal Mouse Cochlea in Vivo. The American Society of Cell Biology 2012 Annual meeting at San Francisco, Dec. 15-19, 2012

17. Kuo B., ChaiR., Liu Z., Xia A., Taketo M., Cheng A., Zuo J. *, Lgr5+ Supporting Cells Form Replication Foci in Response to Wnt/β-Catenin Overexpression in the Postnatal Mouse Cochlea in Vivo. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 35th Annual Meeting at San Deigo, Feb. 25-29, 2012

18. Wang T., Chai R., Liaw E., Xia A., Cheng A. *,Characterization of the Wnt Signaling in the Postnatal Mouse Utricles. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 35th Annual Meeting at San Deigo, Feb. 25-29, 2012

19. Kim J., Nadaraja G., Huth M., Luk L., Chai R., Ricci, A. Cheng A. *, Hair Cell Tiplink Proteins Mediate Aminoglycoside Entry and Toxicity. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 35th Annual Meeting at San Deigo, Feb. 25-29, 2012

20. Chai R .^#, Xia A., Jan T., Hayashi T., Bermingham-McDonogh O., Cheng A. *,  Lgr5, a candidate Wnt target gene, is expressed in the developing and mature mouse cochlea.The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 34th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 19-23, 2011

21. Jan T., Chai R., Sayyid Z., Sinkkonen S., Xia A., Wang T., Levin J., Zeng Y., Heller Stefan, Nusse Roel, Cheng Alan. *, Tympanic border cells are Wnt-responsive and act as progenitor cells in the postnatal mouse cochlea. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 34th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 19-23, 2011

22. Sinkkonen S., Jan T., Chai R., Laske R., Cheng A., Oshima K., Heller Stefan *, Proliferation and Differentiation Capacity of Different Cell Populations of Postnatal Mammalian Organ of Corti, The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 34th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 19-23, 2011

23. Sinkkonen S., Herget M., Gahlen F., Jan T., Chai R., Cheng A., Heller Stefan *, Sorting of Otic Progenitors, Hair Cells, and Supporting Cells Using FACS and MACS. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 34th Annual Meeting at Baltimore, Feb. 19-23, 2011

24. Chai R.^#, Jan T., Sayyid Z., Xia A., Nusse Roel, Heller Stefan, Cheng Alan. *, Role of canonical Wnt signaling in mouse inner ear stem cells. The International Society for Stem Cell Research 8th Annual Meeting at San Francisco, June 16-20, 2010

25. Xia A., Chai R., Levin J., Cheng Alan. *, Characterization of Troy in the developing inner ear. The Association for Research in Otolaryngology 33th Annual Meeting at Los Angeles, Feb. 18-22, 2010

26. Yang B., Ding J., McNeill N., Chai R., Sweetman L., Bennett-Firmin J., Roe C. *, Novel Mutations in Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase II gene.  The American Society of Human Genetics 57th Annual Meeting at San Diego, Oct. 23 –27, 2007.

Grant Support：

Ongoing Grants as PI：

• Ministry of Technology,  973 Project

Chai (PI)    ￥7,200,000    1/1/2018-12/31/2022

• Boehringer Ingelheim(BI) Grant

Chai (PI)    ￥5,000,000    1/1/2017-12/31/2019

• Jiangsu Province Creative Group Grant

Chai (PI)    ￥750,000    1/1/2017-12/31/2020

• National Natural Science Foundation of China, Outstanding Young Scientist  Project

Chai (PI)    ￥1,500,000    8/1/2016-7/31/2019

• Jiangsu Province Creative Scientist Grant

Chai (PI)    ￥1,000,000    1/1/2015-12/31/2019

• Jiangsu Province Outstanding Scientist Grant

Chai (PI)    ￥1,000,000    1/1/2015-12/31/2019

• Thousand Young Talented Scientist Grant

Chai (PI)    ￥3,000,000    1/1/2015-12/31/2019

• National Natural Science Foundation of China, Young Scientist  Project

Chai (PI)    ￥240,000    8/1/2015-7/31/2018

• Ministry of Technology, Talented Young Scientist 973 Project

Chai (PI)    ￥1,550,000    1/1/2015-12/31/2018

• National Natural Science Foundation of China, General Project

Chai (PI)    ￥730,000    10/1/2014-9/30/2018

Finished Grants as PI：

• Jiangsu Province Natural Science Foundation, Young Scientist Project

• Chai (PI)    ￥200,000    8/1/2014-7/31/2017

• Jiangsu Province Outstanding Young Scientist Award,

• Chai (PI)  ￥150,000  1/1/2014-12/31/2016  

• Southeast University  Outstanding Young Teacher Award,

• Chai (PI)    ￥150,000    10/1/2013-9/30/2016

• Southeast University  Startup Grant,

• Chai (PI)    ￥1,500,000    8/1/2013-10/31/2014

• Dean’s Fellowship at Stanford University SOM   Chai (PI) $20,000    1/1/2010-12/31/2010

• Hearing Health Foundation Grant             Chai (PI)   $25,000                  7/1/2012-6/30/2013

Brief Introduction:

Dr. Renjie Chai, Ph.D., professor and assistant dean from Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University. His other appointments include vice-president of Association of Hearing, Speech and Communication in Biophysical Society of China, Executive board member of International Association of Physicians in Audiology. He is the winner of Excellent Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the winner of 1000 Young Talents Recruitment Plan of China, and has been awarded more than 20 grants including the National Key R&D Program of China, the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Science, Faculty Research Award from Boehringer Ingelheim and Novartis. His research focuses on the regeneration and protection of inner ear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. He has published more than 70 papers, including Advanced Materials, Nature Communications, PNAS et al..