About the Lab

Lab Leader

Ann-Shyn Chiang Ph. D. 江安世 教授
AFFILIATION

Academician of Academia Sinica (中央研究院院士)
Tsing Hua Distinguished Chair Professor (清華特聘講座教授)
Director, Brain Research Center (腦科學研究中心主任)

INTERNATIONAL FACULTY
Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind (KIBM) at the University of California, San Diego
FIELDS OF SPECIALTY

Connectomics; Behavioral Neurogenetics; Bioimaging

  • National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30043, Taiwan.

  • Tel: 886-3-5742760

  • E-mail: aschiang@life.nthu.edu.tw

  • International Faculty, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind (KIBM) at the University of California, San Diego.

  • E-mail: a6chiang@ucsd.edu

EDUCATION
  • 1990 Ph.D. in Entomology, Rutgers University, New Jersey , U.S.A.
  • 1983 M.S. in Plant Pathology and Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, R.O.C.
  • 1981 B.S. in Entomology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taiwan , R.O.C.
ACADEMIC POSITION
  • 2019-present Adjunct Chair Professor, Tunghai University, Taiwan
  • 2017-present Adjunct Investigator, Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, The National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
  • 2016-present Adjunct Investigator, Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
  • 2016-present Adjunct Distinguished Investigator, National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Taiwan
  • 2016-present Adjunct Distinguished Chair Professor, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taiwan
  • 2016-present Director, Industrial Biotechnology Ph.D. program, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • 2014-present Adjunct Chair Professor, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
  • 2014-present Tsing Hua Distinguished Chair Professor, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • 2013-present Scientific Advisory Board member, Center for Brain Activity Mapping at UCSD
  • 2013-present Scientific Advisory Board member, Cold Spring Harbor Conferences Asia, China
  • 2011-present International Faculty, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind (KIBM) at the University of California, San Diego, USA.
  • 2010-present Adjunct Chair Professor, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
  • 2014-2020 Dean, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • 2008-2018 Adjunct Investigator, Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica
  • 2007-2014 Tsing Hua Chair Professor, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • 2006-2008 Adjunct Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA
  • 2005 Chair of Biological Science Panel, National Science Council, Taiwan
  • 2005-2010 Adjunct Professor, Department of Life Science, National Central University, Taiwan
  • 2004-present Director, Brain Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • 2002-2008 Director, Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • 2001-2002 Visiting Scientist, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA
  • 1997 Visiting Professor, Neurobiology Laboratory, CNRS, France
  • 1997-present Professor, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • 1994-2005 Advisor of EM Center, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
  • 1992-1997 Associate Professor, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University
  • 1990-1992 Postdoc, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA
HONOR
  • 2018-2023 深耕計畫(教育部腦科學中心、科技部特色中心)
  • 2017 「遠見」雜誌再度選為「新台灣之光100」
  • 2016 TWAS Fellow (發展中世界科學會 院士)
  • 2016 Presidential Special Lecturer, The Society for Neuroscience 2016 Annual Meeting (>35,000 participants)
  • 2015 National Chair Professorship Award, Ministry of Education (教育部第19屆國家講座，生物及醫農類科)
  • 2014 Academician, Academia Sinica (中央研究院 院士)
  • 2013 有庠科技獎-科技論文獎
  • 2013-2017 Free-style Outstanding Research Project, MOST (自由型卓越學研計畫, 科技部)
  • 2012 Published Taiwan’s first "Science" full article.
  • 2012 AEARU Distinghuished Lecture (東亞研究型大學協會傑出講座)
  • 2012 TWAS Prize in Biologoy (發展中世界科學會 生物學類獎)
  • 2012 Hou Jindui Distinguished Honor Award (侯金堆傑出榮譽獎—基礎科學生物類)
  • 2011-2013 Academic Summit Project, NSC (國科會攻頂計畫)
  • 2010 「遠見」雜誌-選為中華民國建國百年「新台灣之光100」
  • 2009 The Fifty Scientific Achievements, NSC 50th anniversary (國科會50週年慶「50科學成就」)
  • 2008 Teco Award of Teco Technology Foundation (東元科技獎化工/生物/醫工領域)
  • 2008 HuiSun Chair of National Chung Hsing University (中興大學蕙蓀講座)
  • 2007 Distinguished Alumnus of National Chung Hsing University (中興大學傑出校友)
  • 2007 Outstanding Scholar Award, Foundation for the Advancement of Outstanding Scholarship (傑出人才基金會傑出人才講座)
  • 2007 Sun Yat-sen Academic Award (中山學術獎)
  • 2007 Outstanding Contributions in Science & Technology, Executive Yuan (行政院傑出科技貢獻獎)
  • 2007 Academic Award of Ministry of Education (教育部學術獎)
  • 2007 Published Taiwan’s first "Cell" paper
  • 2006-2017 邁向頂尖大學腦科學中心計畫(教育部)
  • 2004, 2010, 2013 Outstanding Research Award, National Science Council, Taiwan. (國科會傑出獎)
  • 1990 First place in the Student Paper Competition, Eastern Branch of Entomological Society of America 62nd Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, USA
  • 1989 Radclyffe B. Roberts Scholarship, Department of Entomology, Rutgers Univ, USA
  • 1987 Thomas J. Headlee Fellowship, Department of Entomology, Rutgers Univ, USA

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • The Society for Neuroscience member
  • Editorial Board: GigaScience (2012-present), Journal of Neurogenetics (2009〜present), Chinese Journal of Entomology (1995-present).
  • 媒體報導: The New York Times (2010); Nature (2009, 2017); Current Biology (2011);「遠見」雜誌選為中華民國建國百年「新台灣之光100」(2010, 2017)
  • 指導委員: 教育部學審會生醫領域召集人(2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)、國家同步輻射中心諮議委員、國家高速網路與計算中心諮議委員、高雄醫學大學校務發展諮議委員(2017〜present)、中興大學講座特聘教授頂尖人才遴聘審議委員
  • 遴選委員：中興大學校長(2010, 2015)、中興大學農學院院長(2015)、成功大學生命科學院院長(2017)、中研院生物多樣性中心主任(2015)、國家衛生院細胞及系統醫學研究所所長(2017)、中原大學特聘教授(2015)、中興大學講座教授(2016, 2017)
  • 評審委員: 總統科學獎(2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)、教育部國家講座暨學術獎(2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)、科技部傑出獎(2015, 2017)、東元獎(2015, 2016, 2017)、王民寧獎(2016, 2017)、永信李天德醫藥科技獎(2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)、工研院傑出研究獎(2017, 2018, 2019)、杜聰明獎(2016)、臺法科技獎(2016)、中研院年輕學者研究著作獎(2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)、吳大猷科普獎(2018)、中研院前瞻計畫(2017, 2018)、中研院主題計畫(2016, 2017, 2018)、中研院生涯發展計畫(2015)、科技部曜星研究計畫(2017, 2018)、教育部臺灣人才躍昇計畫(2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)、教育部產研計畫(2018, 2019)、教育部產業博士計畫(2019)、傑出人才發展基金會年輕學者創新獎(2018, 2019)、有庠科技獎(2019)、李國鼎科技與人文講座(2018, 2019)、玉山學者(2018)
  • 學會理監事: 中華民國細分學會理監事(2018, 2019)、清華教師會(2017, 2018, 2019)
  • Reviewed manuscripts for Science, Current Biology, PNAS, Cell Reports, PLoS Biology, PLoS Genetics, eLife, Journal of Neuroscience, Nature Communications
  • Reviewed International grants for: National Science Foundation, Science Foundation Ireland, Wellcome Trust (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), AXA Research Fund (2015), European Research Council (2017)
  • 國際課程講師: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India (2011); Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole (2006); Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (2002)

MAJOR SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

We aim to understand the genetic and neural basis of brain functions using Drosophila as a model system. We take two main approaches: (i) to construct a wiring diagram of information flows in the entire brain, and (ii) to manipulate target neurons for understanding the computation process in specific neural circuits orchestrating the studied behaviors. Major achievements in our attempts to reach these goals include:

  • Invent the world-first tissue clearing technology. We developed an optical tissue clearing solution, called FocusClear (J Comp Neurol 2001, 440:1-11; Methods 2003, 30:86-93), compatible to GFP for the visualization of gene expressions in an intact brain at single cell resolution. Making biological tissue transparent allows efficient excitation and detection of fluorescence signals at the depth hundreds of micron beneath the surface. Combining with confocal microscopy, our tissue clearing technology has revolutionized traditional anatomy by allowing high-resolution 3D imaging of large biological tissues without physical sectioning. The invention has received patents from Taiwan (Patent No: 206390), UAS (Patent No: US 6472216 B1), France (Patent No: 2830323) and United Kingdom (Patent No: GB237757).

  • Discover odor representation in the higher brain centers via a circuit shunting mechanism. We discovered neuronal temporal identity and stereotyped neural connections in the 3rd order olfactory center of the Drosophila brain (published in Cell 2006, 127:409-422; Cell 2007, 128:1205-1217) and a shunting mechanism for gating CO2 information flow in parallel neural circuits (Science 2013, 340:1338-1341). Our findings extend the understanding of olfactory representations to the 3rd order brain center and show that information routing is context dependent.

  • Discover that long-term memory stores in only few brain neurons. Forming long-term memory requires new protein synthesis in all animals. We found that learning-induced new proteins occur in only few brain neurons for the formation of long-term memory (Science 2012, 335:678-685; Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2013, 110:7898-7903). Previously, we have established fly models for studying long-term memory formation (Current Biology 2003, 13:286-296), intermediate-term memory consolidation (Current Biology 2011, 21:848-854; Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011, 108:13794-13799), aging dependent memory defect (Neuron 2003, 40:1003-1011), Alzheimer’s diseases (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2004, 101:6623-6628), Huntington’s diseases (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005, 102:3777-3781), and IBMPFD disease model (PLoS Genetics 2011, 7:e1001288). Importantly, we discovered the first functional NMDA receptors in insects (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2002, 99:37-42; Current Biology 2005, 15:603-615; Nature Neuroscience 2007, 10:1578-1586). This series of studies suggest a unified cellular model for learning and memory and extend our understanding of memory formation from molecular to systems consolidation. (Curr Opin Neurobiol 2013, 23:84-91).

  • Construct the world-first 3D fly brain database at single neuron resolution. We created the first brain-wide wiring map in Drosophila (Current Biology 21:1-11, 2011). The study managed to bar code 16,000 neurons in the fly brain, an advance that is comparable to the sequencing of the fly genome and considered as the first step toward decoding the human brain by The New York Times. The breakthrough paves the way for a comprehensive analysis of information processing within and between neurons and ultimately a deeper understanding of control and causality in fly behavior (Current Biology 2011, 21:R19-20; Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2014, 111:5367-5372). Guided by this brain circuit map, we have mapped auditory circuit (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2012, 109:2607-2612; Neuron 2013, 77:115-128), temperature circuits (Nature Communications 2015, 6:7775) and established a comprehensive map of the central complex indicating the direction of information flow at single cell resolution (Cell Reports 3:1739-1753, 2013). For his contribution in connectomics, Chiang was invited as one of the Presidential Special Lecturers at the Neuroscience 2016 Annual Meeting where he demonstrated the first effort toward whole body connectomics (reviewed in J Neurosci 2016, 36:11375–11383).

PATENTS

  • 具高解析度之共軛焦顯微鏡影像拼接方法(江安世、陳永昌、蔡耀萱), 中華民國專利證書: I480833, 專利期間:2015/04/11-2029/06/04。
  • 三維影像資料處理方法- Method of three-dimensional image data processing (江安世、林志勇、莊朝均、張修明、謝昌煥) 中華民國專利證書:I460684, 專利期間:2014/11/11-2030/09/26；US patent No: 8593457, Effective period: 2013/11/26.
  • 微小昆蟲自動分類系統(江安世、陳榮順、蔡宏營、賀陳弘、方維倫、吳嘉霖、林建宏、林育慶、楊智舜、吳鈺徵、朱麗安), 中華民國專利證書:I442884, 專利期間:2014/07/01-2031/09/28。
  • 一種提高三維影像資訊密度之方法-Image processing method for feature retention and the system of the same (江安世、張修明、陳永昌、陳冠宇), 中華民國專利證書:I435112, 專利期間:2014/04/21-2031/06/02；US patent No: 8665276, Effective period: 2014/03/04.
  • Sample carrying apparatus capable of revolving sample (江安世、傅建中、張修明), US patent No: 8659825 B2, Effective period: 2014/02/25.
  • 觀察厚組織三維結構之方法 (江安世、湯學成、劉原安), 中華民國專利證書: I425201, 專利權期間:2014/2/10-2030/9/30。
  • 提供三維立體影像之方法及系統(王國肇、江安世、張修明、莊朝鈞、葉昌偉、謝昌煥), 中華民國專利證書:I407773,專利權期間:2013/9/1-2030/4/12。
  • 一種建構和搜尋三維影像資料庫之方法- A Method for Searching and Constructing 3D Image Database(王聖川、江安世、李秉璋、林敬堯、荊宇泰、莊朝鈞、張修明、陳永昌、蔡坤龍、謝昌煥),中華民國專利證書: I406181, 專利權期間:2013/8/21-2029/05/10;US patent No:8520933, Effective period: 2013/08/27.
  • 一種三維影像補密重建方法(江安世、張修明、陳家和、傅建中、謝昌煥), 中華民國專利證書: I396142, 專利權期間:2013/05/11-2028/09/10。
  • 可保留影像特徵之影像處理方法及系統(江安世、張修明、陳永昌、陳冠宇), 中華民國專利證書: I393071, 專利權期間:2013/04/11-2030/02/11。
  • 具可翻轉樣本功能之樣本承載設備(江安世、張修明、傅建中),中華民國專利證書:I386679, 專利權期間:2013/02/21-2027/12/19。
  • 具有用以產生標準果蠅腦模型及其座標系統之模組之生物表現系統(江安世、陳永昌、張修明), 中華民國專利證書:I381283, 專利權期間:2013/01/01-2029/04/23。
  • 用於三維影像資料庫建構之影像預處理系統(江安世、李秉璋、荊宇泰、莊朝鈞、張修明、陳永昌、謝昌煥),中華民國專利證書:I378402, 專利權期間:2012/12/01-2029/06/11。
  • Bio-expression system with module for creating the standard Drosophila brain model and its coordinate system(江安世、陳永昌、張修明), UAS patent No: 8315809, Effective period: 2012/11/10.
  • Image preprocessing system for 3D image database construction (江安世、李秉璋、荊宇泰、莊朝鈞、張修明、陳永昌、謝昌煥), UAS patent No:8126247, Effective period:2012/02/28.
  • A method for searching and constructing 3D image database (王聖川、江安世、李秉璋、林敬堯、荊宇泰、莊朝鈞、張修明、陳永昌、蔡坤龍、謝昌煥), UAS patent No: 8520933, Effective period: 2010/06.
  • 生物表現系統及其方法- Bio-expression system and the method of the same (江安世、陳永昌、林强、荊宇泰、唐傳義、張修明), 中華民國專利證書: I291630, 專利權期間: 2007/12/21-2025/04/25 ; UAS patent No: 7742878, Effective period: 2010/06。
  • 橫臥式果繩訓練機(江安世), 中華民國專利證書:M291798, 專利權期間:2006/06/11- 2015/12/18。
  • 水溶性組織澄清溶液-Aqueous Tissue Clearing Solution (江安世), 中華民國專利證書: M291798, 專利權期間:2004/06/21-2021/06/28;USA patent No: US 6472216 B1, Effective period: 2002/10; United Kingdom patent No: GB237757, Effective period: 2004/11/17; France patent No: 2830323, Effective period: 2001/10/01。
  • 生物顯微鏡影像技術以正反掃描與3D影像套合達到增加景深及解析度之方法(江安世), 中華民國專利證書:594593, 專利權期間: 2004/06/21-2023/01/29。