Albert Wong

Our lab is interested in disease mechanisms in psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia and depression. We use animal models to investigate gene x environment interactions, epigenetics, transcription and neurodevelopment. We also have human clinical samples and studies probing spatial navigation in a VR environment.

Students have the opportunity to work on a number of related projects:

1. Disc1 gene mutant mouse models - characterization of genetic and environmental effects on neuron migration during cortical development;
2. Novel brain RNA transcripts regulating sensory gating in rodents as an endophenotype for schizophrenia;
3. Heritability of DNA methylation profiles and effects on behavioural phenotype in the mouse;
4. Spatial navigation in schizophrenia as a probe for hippocampal function using VR. 

Selected Publications:

Ng E, Georgiou J, Avila A, Throught K, Mun H-S, Hodgson M, Servinis P, Roder JC, Collingridge GL, Wong AHC. Mice lacking Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 show phenotypes relevant to autism spectrum disorder, Behavioural Brain Research, 2020 Mar 2;381:112420. 

Li H, Su P, Lai TKY, Lee FHF, Liu J, Li S, Pasricha S, Wong AHC, Ressler KJ, Liu F. The glucocorticoid receptor and FKBP51 form a protein complex that can be a biomarker and treatment target for PTSD, Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2020, January 13, https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI130363.

Wang DY, Kosowan J, Samsom J, Leung L, Zhang K-L, Li Y-X, Xiong Y, Jin J, Petronis A, Oh G, Wong AHC. Inhibition of the G9a/GLP histone methyltransferase modulates anxiety-related behavior in the mouse. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2018. Feb 8. doi: 10.1038/aps.2017.190

Abbass M, Trought K, Long D, Semechko A, Wong AHC. Automated immunohistochemical method to analyze large areas of the human cortex. Journal of Neuroscience Methods Vol 294, 15 January 2018, pp 81-90. doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.10.024

Feldcamp L, Boutros PC, Raymond R, Fletcher PJ, Nobrega JN, Wong AHC. Pdxdc1 (pyridoxal-dependent decarboxylase domain containing 1) modulates pre-pulse inhibition of acoustic startle in the mouse. Translational Psychiatry 2017, 7, e1125; doi:10.1038/tp.2017.85. http://rdcu.be/rTJl  

Feldcamp L, Doucet J-S, Pawling J, Fadel MP, Fletcher PJ, Maunder R, Dennis JW, Wong AH. Mgat5 modulates the effect of early life stress on adult behaviour and physical health in mice. Behavioural Brain Research 2016 October 1; 312: 253-264. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2016.06.033

Ng E, Varaschin RK, Su P, Browne CJ, Hermainski J, Foll BL, Pongs O, Liu F, Trudeau LE, Roder JC, Wong AH. Neuronal calcium sensor-1 deletion in the mouse decreases motivation and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Behav Brain Res. 2016 March 15; 301:213-25. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.12.037.

Zhai D, Lee FHF, D’Souza C, Su P. Zhang S, Jia J, Zhang L, Wong AHC, Liu F. Blocking the GluR2-GAPDH interaction ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology 2015 Apr;2(4):388-400. doi: 10.1002/acn3.182.

Su P, Li S, Chen S, Lipina TV, Wang M, Lai TKY, Lee FHF, Zhang H, Zhai D, Ferguson SG, Nobrega JN, Wong AHC, Roder JC, Fletcher PJ, Liu F. A Dopamine D2 Receptor-DISC1 Protein Complex May Contribute to Antipsychotic-like Effects. Neuron 2014 Dec 17;84(6):1302-16. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.11.007.

 Zawadzki JA, Girard TA, Foussias G, Rodrigues A, Siddiqui I, Lerch JP, Grady C, Remington G, Wong AH: Simulating real world functioning in schizophrenia using a naturalistic city environment and single-trial, goal-directed navigation. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2013) 7:180. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00180

Lipina TV, Zai C, Hlousek D, Roder JC, Wong AHC: Maternal immune activation during gestation interacts with Disc1 point mutation to exacerbate schizophrenia-related behaviours in mice.  The Journal of Neuroscience May 1, 2013 • 33(18):7654 –7666 doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0091-13.2013.

Menon M, Quilty LC, Zawadzki JA, Woodward TS, Sokolowski HM, Boon HS, Wong AH: The role of cognitive biases and personality variables in subclinical delusional ideation. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry 2013 May;18(3):208-18. doi: 10.1080/13546805.2012.692873.

Lipina TV, Haque FN, McGirr A, Berger T, Mak TW, Boutros PC, Roder JC, Wong AH: Prophylactic valproic acid treatment prevents schizophrenia-related behaviour in Disc1-L100P mutant mice, PLoS one December 2012; 7(12) e51562. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051562 (ISI 2011 impact factor 4.092)

Lee FH, Fadel MP, Preston-Maher K, Cordes SP, Clapcote SJ, Price DJ, Roder JC, Wong AH: Disc1 point mutations in mice alter development of the cerebral cortex. The Journal of Neuroscience 2 March 2011, 31(9):3197-3206

Kaminsky ZA, Tang T, Wang SC, Ptak C, Oh G, Wong AHC=, Feldcamp LA, Virtanen C, Halfvarsson J, Tysk C, McRae A, Visscher P, Montgomery GW, Gottesman II, Martin NG, and Petronis A: DNA methylation profiles in monozygotic and dizygotic twins, Nature Genetics 41, 240 - 245 (2009)

Wong AHC, Macciardi F, Klempan T, Kawczynski W, Barr CL, Lakatoo S, Wong M, Buckle C, Trakalo J, Boffa E, Oak J, Azevado M-H, Dourado A, Coelho I, Macedo A, Vicente A, Valente J, Paz Ferreira C, Pato MT, Pato CN, Kennedy JL, Van Tol HHM: Identification of candidate genes for psychosis in rat models and possible association between schizophrenia and the 14-3-3 gene. Molecular Psychiatry 2003; 8(2): 156-166.