Research areas
My research uses young frog tadpoles as a simple model system to study the basic neuronal mechanisms underlying motor control. Apart from basic motor reflexes, tadpoles can swim forward when touched and struggle when held, with both behaviour powered by axial muscles. They also exhibit some acute, concussion-like response when swim into solid objects. The tadpole spinal cord and hindbrain are simple and highly accessible for recordings, making it an ideal place to investigate rules that may be common to the movements of different animal species. I’m also interested in how these mechanisms mature during neural development. Our research methods include electrophysiology, calcium imaging, optogenetics, mRNA microinjections, anatomy and computer modelling.
Lab members
Yi Lou PhD student funded by the Chinese Scholarship Council and the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
Valentina Saccomanno PhD student co-supervised with Dr Maarten Zwart
Dr Hong-Yan Zhang Postdoctoral research fellow funded by BBSRC.
Opportunities
PhD positions: I always welcome inquiries from students with genuine research interests on potential PhD projects, which can be on either motor control or developmental plasticity. You should hold or expect to hold at least an upper second first degree in neuroscience or related subjects.
China Scholarship Council and University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Scholarships This is suitable for students of Chinese nationality in the last year of your BSc or MSc study. The deadline of which is usually January every year. Therefore you need to contact me well in advance to discuss potential projects for your application.
Former lab members
Nicola Porter: PhD student funded by BBSRC.
postdoctoral research fellow funded by Wellcome Trust.
Dr Erik Svensson: postdoctoral research fellow funded by BBSRC.
Monica Wagner: research assistant funded by BBSRC.
Dr Shiv Kumar Postdoctoral research fellow funded by BBSRC.
Giulia Messa co-supervised PhD student from 's lab in the University of Kent.
Collaborators
and at the University of Bristol
at Plymouth University
in the University of Exeter
Prof Keith Sillar at the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
at Glasgow caledonian University
Selected publications
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Open access
Farjami, S., Palyanov, A., Zhang, H.-Y., Saccomanno, V., Merrison-Hort, R., Ferrario, A., Borisyuk, R., Tabak, J. & Li, W.-C., 19 Dec 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: iScience. 28, 12, 114068.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Zhao, Q., Li, X., Wen, J., He, Y., Zheng, N., Li, W., Cardona, A. & Gong, Z., 5 Aug 2024, In: Current Biology. 34, 15, p. 3439-3453.e5
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Ferrario, A., Saccomanno, V., Zhang, H.-Y., Borisyuk, R. & Li, W.-C., 22 Feb 2023, In: The Journal of Neuroscience. 43, 8, p. 1387-1404 18 p., JN-RM-0520-22.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Kumar, S., Kumar, V., Li, W. & Kim, J., 1 Mar 2022, In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23, 5, 26 p., 2741.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Open access
Ferrario, A., Palyanov, A., Koutsikou, S., Li, W., Soffe, S., Roberts, A. & Borisyuk, R., 13 Dec 2021, In: PLoS Computational Biology. 17, 12, 41 p., e1009654.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Li, W.-C., 3 Feb 2021, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. 6 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Saccomanno, V., Love, H. M., Sylvester, A. L. & Li, W.-C., 17 Nov 2021, In: Journal of Neurophysiology. 126, 5, p. 1814-1830 17 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Sillar, K. T. & Li, W. C., 14 Aug 2020, (E-pub ahead of print) The Neural Control of Movement: Model Systems and Tools to Study Locomotor Function. Whelan, P. J. & Sharples, S. A. (eds.). Elsevier, p. 153-174 22 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Open access
Li, W.-C. & Soffe, S., 18 Feb 2019, In: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 13, 12 p., 47.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Roberts, A., Borisyuk, R., Buhl, E., Ferrario, A., Koutsikou, S., Li, W.-C. & Soffe, S. R., Mar 2019, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 286, 1899, 7 p., 20190297.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review