Postdoctoral fellow
BS, Sichuan University, China
PhD, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China
Millions of people worldwide are affected by rare genetic diseases, yet efficient diagnostic methods are lacking. By utilizing Drosophila and a range of genetic tools, I am able to model specific mutations in vivo and uncover the links between genetic mutations and the patient phenotypes. This modelling also facilitates the study of further pathological mechanisms and potential therapies. Notably, many rare diseases are associated with neurological symptoms, such as neurodevelopmental delays and epilepsy. Specifically, lipidomic disorders are suggested to play a significant role in neurological diseases, including Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. Therefore, I am also interested in exploring the systemic effects of lipidomic alterations in Drosophila neurological disease models.
Ma M*, Lei X*, Li J*, Zheng Y, Yuan Y, Nitta Y, Mao X, Guo Z, Lu S, Deng M, Pan X, Kanca O, Liu S, Wang H, Xiao B, Schot R, Demirdas S, van Bever Y, van Slegtenhorst M, Barakat TS, Bian S#, Bellen HJ#, Long L# (2026). Bi-allelic variants in the secretory pathway gene SEC16A are associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Journal of Clinical Investigation Abstract
Deng M, Ma M, Gomez VA, Zhao J, Lu S, Hannan SB, Baskin S, Khan A, Latner DR, Hiatt SM, Cooper GM, Parker MJ, Carroll T, Wortmann SB, Mayr JA, Boczek NJ, Rasmussen K, Kahn E, Lanpher B, Nava C, Courtin T, Gu M, Ma L, Zhao Y, Hashimoto H, Yamamoto S, Liu Z, Shulman JM, The Community Texome, Wangler MF#, Bellen HJ# (2026). Monoallelic variants in BRSK1 are associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder with or without epilepsy The American Journal of Human Genetics 28 S0002-9297(26)00346-0 Abstract
Lu S, Ma M, Hannan SB, Deng M, Chen H, Yu Z, Goodman LD, Kim H, Zhao Y, Dubey SK, Lin WW, Pan X, Dutta D, Cuddapah VA, Rosenfeld JA, Luo X, Liu Z, Shulman JM#, Bellen HJ# (2026). Digenic variants that affect an actin-mitochondria-glutamate pathway cause epilepsy Journal of Clinical Investigation 136(17) e198696 Abstract
Gu M, Zhao J, Deng M, Lin G, Pan X, Lin W, Ma M, Kim J, Byeon SK, Pandey A, Lange LM, Shaw CA, Kim J, Trinh J, Klein C, Kanca O, Shulman JM#,Bellen HJ# (2026). Two lysosomal genes ATP13A2 and GBA1 interact to drive neurodegeneration Molecular Neurodegeneration 21(1) 18 Abstract
Ma M, Zheng Y, Deng M, Lu S, Pan X, Luo X, Etoundi M, Li-Kroeger D, Worley KC, Burrage LC, Blieden LS, Allworth A, Chen WL, Merla G, Mandriani B, Otten CE, Blanc P, Rosenfeld JA, Dutta D, Yamamoto S, Wangler MF, Glass IA, Chen J, Blue E, Prontera P, Rosain J, Marlin S, Lalani SR, Bellen HJ; Undiagnosed Diseases Network (2025). Heterozygous variants in PLCG1 affect hearing, vision, cardiac, and immune function Elife 13 RP95887 Abstract
Deng M, Wang Y, Yan Y. (2022). Mining cell-cell signaling in single-cell transcriptomics atlases Curr Opin Cell Biol 76 102101 Abstract
Deng M, Wang Y, Zhang L, Yang Y, Huang S, Wang J, Ge H, Ishibashi T, Yan Y. (2019). Single cell transcriptomic landscapes of pattern formation, proliferation and growth in Drosophila wing imaginal discs Development 146(18) dev179754 Abstract
Ji T, Zhang L, Deng M, Huang S, Wang Y, Pham TT, Smith AA, Sridhar V, Cabernard C, Wang J, Yan Y. (2019). Dynamic MAPK signaling activity underlies a transition from growth arrest to proliferation in Drosophila scribble mutant tumors Dis Model Mech. 12(8) dmm040147 Abstract
An Y, Xue G, Shaobo Y, Deng M, Zhou X, Yu W, Ishibashi T, Zhang L, Yan Y. (2017). Apical constriction is driven by a pulsatile apical myosin network in delaminating Drosophila neuroblasts Development 144(12) 2153-2164 Abstract