Research interests: 

The goal of our research is to understand the basic biological principles governing assembly of peripheral neural circuits, with focus on the role of axon-axon and axon-glia interactions, and further to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions. For this purpose, we employ a broad array of methods including mouse molecular genetics, advanced confocal and electronmicroscopy, electrophysiology, quantitative RT-PCR，microarray-based gene expression profiling and behavioural test to investigate these mechanisms from both in vivo and in vitro research angles.The ongoing projects in my laboratory basically include: 1) molecular mechanisms driving sensory-sympathetic and motor-sympathetic circuits assembly; 2) molecular mechanisms underlying axon-glia interaction; 3) contribution of extrinsic enteric nervous system to the innervation of gastrointestinal tract. We hope that some of our work will provide clues to understanding and treatment of the peripheral nervous system relevant diseases.

Recent publications: 

Wang L, Mongera A, Bonanomi D, Cyganek L, Pfaff SL, Nüsslein-Volhard C and Marquardt T. (2014) A conserved axon type hierarchy governing peripheral nerve assembly. Development 41(9): 1875-83. 

Wang Land Marquardt T. (2013) What axons tell each other: axon-axon signaling in nerve and circuit assembly. Curr Opin Neurobiol 23(6): 974-82. 

Wang Land Marquardt T. (2012) Direct live monitoring of heterotypic axonal interactions in vitro. Nature Protocols 7(2): 351-63. 

Wang L, Klein R, Zheng,B and Marquardt T. (2011). Anatomical coupling of sensory and motor nerve trajectory through axon tracking. Neuron 71: 263-277.