Wen Shen, Ph.D

Biography

Wen Shen, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biomedical Science. Dr. Shen’s research interests include neural signal processing, ion channel and receptor physiology, and neural and vascular system rearrangement in physiology and pathology. Research in her laboratory is aimed at understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms of synaptic connection, network modulation, and neuroplasticity in the brain and retina, the two systems that are highly correlated in terms of cell types, vasculatures and immune responses and also share characteristics of pathologies. The eye-brain relationship holds benefits for noninvasive approach to the diagnosis of certain retina and brain diseases, including Alzheimer, stroke and age-related vision decline.

Education

• 1999: Ph.D., Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo

Work History

• 2023-present: Professor, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
• 2010-Present: Adjunct Associate Professor, Center for Complex System and Brain Science, College of Science, Florida Atlantic University
• 2010-2023: Associate professor, Department of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
• 2007-2010: Associate professor, College of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University
• 2004-2007: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• 2003-2007: Assistant professor, College of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University
• 1999-2003: Research Assistant Professor, College of Medicine and Biomedical Science, State University of New York at Buffalo

Scholarly Activity

Research Interests

• Neural signal processing, ion channel and receptor physiology
• Synaptic connection, network modulation, and neuroplasticity in healthy and diseased retina and brain
• Neurotrophic factors and neuroprotective agents against neurodegeneration

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

• M Nguyen, J Sullivan, W Shen (2023). Retinal vascular remodeling in photoreceptor degenerative disease. Exp Eye Res., Sept 234., PMID: 37423458.
• BQ Li, S Gografe, A Munchow, M Lopez-Toledano, ZH Pan and W Shen (2019) Sex-related differences in the progressive retinal degeneration of the rd10 mouse. Experimental Eye Research, 187: 107773, doi:10.1016/j.exer.2019.107773.
• W Shen, CL Nan, PT Nelson, H Ripps and MM Slaughter (2017) GABA(B) receptor attenuation of GABA(A) currents in neurons of the mammalian central nervous system. Physiological Reports. 5(6) e13129 doi:10.14814/phy2.13129.
• J Yang, CL Nan, H Ripps and W Shen (2015) Destructive Changes in the Neuronal Structure of the FVB/N Mouse Retina. PLoS ONE 10(6): e0129719. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0129719. PMCID: PMC4475023.
• Z Jiang, JN Yang, LA Purpura, YF liu, H Ripps and W Shen (2014) Glycinergic feedback enhances synaptic gain in the distal retina. Journal of Physiology (London), 592 (7) 1479-1492.  PMCID: PMC3979606
• W Shen, LA Purpura, BQ Li, CL Nan, IJ Chang and H Ripps (2013) Regulation of synaptic Transmission at the photoreceptor terminal: A novel role for the cation-chloride cotransporter NKCC1.   Journal of Physiology (London), 591:133-147.  PMCID: PMC3630777.
• S Bulley, YF Liu, H Ripps and W Shen (2013) Taurine activates delayed rectifier KV channels via a metabotropic pathway in retinal neurons.  Journal of Physiol. (London),591:123-132. PMCID: PMC3630776. 
• M JM Rowan, S Bulley, L Purpura, H Ripps and W Shen (2013) Taurine regulation of voltage-gated channels in retinal neurons. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 775:85-99. PMID:23392926.
• H Ripps and W Shen (2012) Taurine: An exceedingly ‘Essential’ amino acid. Molecular Vision 18:2673-2686. PMCID:PMC3501277.
• M JM Rowan, H Ripps and W Shen (2010) Fast glutamate uptake via EAAT2 shapes the cone-mediated light offset response in bipolar cells. Journal of Physiology (London), 588(20): 3943-3956. PMCID: PMC3000584.

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