• Synaptic plasticity in learning and memory
• Role of interneurons in synaptic plasticity
• Role of sleep in memory consolidation
• Fear conditioning and fear extinction
• Anxiety and depressive disorders
• Neurodegenerative diseases

Prof. Cora Lai is an Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong. She obtained her bachelor and doctoral degrees at HKU. She later joined the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine in the Langone NYU Medical Center (New York, USA) for postdoctoral training. She has been working on intravital imaging of the mouse central nervous system in learning and memory, particularly in studying synaptic plasticity in fear associative learning and different psychiatric disease animal models with dendritic spine pathology.

What is memory? This is an important question that has not yet been fully answered. In the past century, researchers have conducted research from two different approaches: a top-down approach, which uses the learning behavior of animals to study the basis of memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval in different brain regions; or a bottom-up approach, which explores the codes and neural circuits that store memories by examining the firing patterns and synaptic transmission of neurons. Our laboratory utilizes both of the approaches mentioned above to investigate how the brain integrates, processes, and stores a wide range of information to modify behaviour. The ability to associate different information and environmental stimuli is one of the key factors for associative learning. However, it is still unclear how neural circuits integrate convergence signals during learning. Auditory fear conditioning is an associative learning paradigm that can serve as an ideal model to study the basic mechanisms of associative learning at the behavioural, circuitry, and molecular levels.

We use in vivo imaging, optogentics, chemogenetics, genetic manipulations, and behavioural approaches to understand synaptic plasticity, neural circuits, and the role of sleep in emotional learning, which will provide insight to help us to better understand the aetiology and therapeutic interventions development for psychiatric disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorders.

• RGC/ECS (2015-2020)
• NSFC-General program (2015-2019)
• HMRF (2016-2018)
• RGC/GRF (2018-2020)
• RGC/GRF (2021-2023)
• RGC/GRF (2022-2024)
• NSFC/RGC JRS (2022-2025)
• HMRF (2022-2025)
• RGC/GRF (2023-2025)
• RGC/GRF (2026-2028)

We are seeking highly motivated research postgraduate students to work on learning and memory research in experimental animal models of genetics, psychiatric, and neurological disorders. Applicants must hold a degree of bachelor with First-Class Honours and/or a master with relevant background in neuroscience or biomedical sciences. To apply, please submit your resume to Prof. Cora Lai (coraswl@hku.hk).

For more details of postgraduate studies, please see the following webpages.

• http://www.gradsch.hku.hk/gradsch/rola/online-application-for-mphil-phd-admission
• http://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html

1. Dong, X., He, H., Shi, M., Lai, C.S.W., Tsia, K.K., Wong, K.K.Y. (2025) Multiplane compressive imaging with axial-coded multiphoton microscopy. Advanced Photonics. 7 (4): 046010.
2. Fok, A.H.K., Lam, C.H.M., Lai, C.S.W. (2025) Specific dendritic spine modifications and dendritic transport: from in vitroto in vivo. Neural Regen. Res. 21 (2): 665-666.
3. Zheng, Q., Huang, Y., Mu, C., Hu, X., Lai, C.S.W. (2024) Selective modulation of fear memory in non-rapid eye movement sleep. Advanced Science. 11: 2400662.
4. Fok, A.H.K., Huang, Y., So, B.W.L., Zheng, Q., Tse, C.S.C., Li, X., Wong, K.K.K., Huang, J., Lai, K.O., Lai, C.S.W. (2024) KIF5B plays important roles in dendritic spine plasticity and dendritic localization of PSD95 and FMRP in the mouse cortex in vivo. Cell Reports. 43(3):113906.
5. Jia, G., Sun, Y., An, P., Wu, W., Shen, Y., Liu, H., Shan, Y., Wang, J., Lai, C.S.W., Schreiner, C.E., He, H., Zhou, X. (2024) Auditory training remodels hippocampus-related memory in adult rats. Cerebral Cortex. 34 (2) : bhae045.
6. Weng, M., Hu, H., Graus, M.S., Tan, D.S., Gao, Y., Ren, S., Ho, D.H.H., Langer, J., Holzner, M., Huang, Y., Ling, G.S., Lai, C.S.W., Francois, M., Jauch R (2023) An engineered Sox17 induces somatic to neural stem cell fate transitions independently from pluripotency reprogramming. Science Advances. 9: eadh2501.
7. He, H., Dong, X., Ren, X., Lai, C.S.W., Tsia, K.K., Wong, K.K.K. (2022). Tomographic-Encoded Multiphoton Microscopy. ACS Photonics. 9(10), 3291–3301.
8. He, H., Tang, H., Zhou, M., Lai, H.M., Qiao, T., Ren, Y.-X., Lai, C.S.W., Ko, H., Wei, X., Yang, Z., Tsia, K.K., Wong, K.K.Y. (2022) Deep-tissue two-photon microscopy with a frequency-doubled all-fiber mode-locked laser at 937 nm. Advanced Photonics Nexus. 1(2): 026001.
9. Cheng, Y., Tang, B., Zhang, G., An, P., Sun, Y., Gao, M., Zhang, Y., Shan, Y., Zhang, J., Liu, Q., Lai, S.W.C., de Villers-Sidani, E., Wang, Y. and Zhou, X. (2022) Degraded cortical temporal processing in the valproic acid-induced rat model of autism. Neuropharmacology. 209, 109000.
10. He H., Ren, Y., Chan, K.Y., So, W.L., Fok, H.K.A., Lai, S.W.C., Tsia, K.K.M., Wong, K.K.Y. (2021) Background-Free Volumetric Two-Photon Microscopy by Side-Lobes-Cancelled Bessel Beam, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics. 27, 1-7.
11. Adler, A.#, Lai, C.S.W.#, Yang, G., Geron, E., Bai, Y., Gan, W.-B. (2021) Sleep promotes the formation of dendritic filopodia and spines near learning-inactive existing spines. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 118 (50): e2114856118 (#Equal contribution.)
12. Huang, Y., Zhang, H., Zhang, Q., Fok, A.H.K., Li, X.Y, Lau, C.G., Lai, C.S.W. (2021) Environmental enrichment or selective activation of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons ameliorates synaptic and behavioral deficits in animal models with schizophrenia-like behaviors during adolescence. Molecular Psychiatry. 26, 2533–2552.
13. Jiang, H.-H., Guo, A., Chiu, A., Li, H., Lai, C.S.W., Lau, C.G. (2021) Target-specific control of piriform cortical output via distinct inhibitory circuits. FASEB Journal. 35(10), e21944.
14. Chan, R.K.Y., He, H., Ren, Y., Lai, C.S.W., Lam, E.Y., Wong, K.K.Y. (2020) Axially resolved volumetric two-photon microscopy with extended field of view using depth localization under mirrored Airy beams. Optics Express. 28 (26): 39563-39573.
15. Zhou, Y.#, Lai, C.S.W.#, Bai, Y., Zhao, R., Yang, G., Frank, M.G., Gan, W.-B. (2020) REM sleep promotes experience-dependent dendritic spine elimination in the mouse cortex. Nature Communications. 11, 4819. (#Equal contribution.)
16. He, H., Kong, C., Chan, K.Y., So, W.L., Fok, H.K., Ren, Y.X., Lai, C.S.W., Tsia, K.K., Wong, K.K.Y. (2020) Resolution enhancement in an extended depth of field for volumetric two-photon microscopy. Optics Letters. 45(11):3054-3057.
17. Kong, C., Pilger, C., Hachmeister, H., Wei, X., Cheung, T., Lai, C.S.W., Lee, N. Tsia, K., Wong, K.K.Y., Huser, T. (2020) High contrast, fast chemical imaging by coherent Raman scattering using a self-synchronized two-color fiber laser. Light: Science & Applications. 9:25.
18. Lin, L., Lyu, Q., Kwan, P.Y., Zhao, J., Fan, R., Chai, A., Lai, C.S.W., Chan, Y.S., Shen, X.,Lai, K.O. (2020) The epilepsy and intellectual disability-associated protein TBC1D24 regulates the maintenance of excitatory synapses and animal behaviors. PLOS Genetics. 16(1):e1008587.
19. Zhao, J.#, Fok, A.H.K.#, Fan, R., Kwan, P.Y., Chan, H.L., Lo, L.H.Y., Chan, Y.S., Yung W.H., Huang, J., Lai, C.S.W.* and Lai, K.O.* (2020) Specific depletion of the motor protein KIF5B leads to deficits in dendritic transport, synaptic plasticity and memory. eLife. 9:e53456. (#Equal contribution. *Corresponding authors.)
    This work is being highlighted in Nature Reviews Neuroscience by the journal chief editor Darran Yates (2020 Feb 6. doi: 10.1038/s41583-020-0272-8.) and selected for eLife digest.
20. Chen, K., Zheng, Y., Wei, J., Ouyang, H., Huang, X., Zhang, F., Lai, C.S.W., Ren, C., So, K.-F., & Zhang, L. (2019) Exercise training improves motor skill learning via selective activation of mTOR. Science Advances. 5: eaaw1888.
21. Tan, X.J., Kong, C., Ren, Y.X., Lai, C.S.W., Tsia, K.K., Wong, K.K.Y. (2019) Volumetric two-photon microscopy with a non-diffracting Airy beam. Optics Letters. 44(2):391-394.
22. Ng, L.H.L., Huang, Y., Chang, R.C.C., Lai, C.S.W. (2018) Ketamine and selective activation of parvalbumin interneurons inhibit stress-induced dendritic spine elimination. Translational Psychiatry. 8:272.
23. Lai, C.S.W.*, Adler, A., Gan, W.-B.* (2018) Fear extinction reverses dendritic spine formation induced by fear conditioning in the mouse auditory cortex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 115(37):9306-9311. (*Corresponding author.)
24. Kong, C., Pilger, C., Hachmeister, H., Wei, X., Cheung, T.H., Lai, C.S.W., Huser, T., Tsia, K.K., Wong, K.K.Y. (2017) Compact fs ytterbium fiber laser at 1010 nm for biomedical applications. Biomedical Optic Express. 8(11):4921-4932.
25. Chen, K., Zhang, L., Tan, M., Lai, C.S.W., Li, A., Ren, C., So, K.F. (2017) Treadmill exercise suppressed stress-induced dendritic spine elimination in mouse barrel cortex and improved working memory via BDNF/TrkB pathway. Translational Psychiatry. 2017 Mar 21;7(3):e1069.
26. Lai, C.S.W. (2014) Intravital imaging of dendritic spine plasticity. IntraVital. 6;3(3):e944439. (Invited Review)
27. Yang, G., Lai, C.S.W., Cichon, J., Ma, L., Li, W., Gan, W.-B. (2014) Sleep promotes branch-specific formation of dendritic spines after learning. Science. 344 (6188): 1173-1178.
28. Fénelon, K., Xu, B.*, Lai, C.S.W.*, Mukai, J.*, Markx, S.*, Stark, K.L., Hsu, P.K., Gan, W.B., Fischbach, G.D., MacDermott, A.B., Karayiorgou, M., Gogos, J.A. (2013) The Pattern of Cortical Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of a Schizophrenia-Related Microdeletion. Journal of Neuroscience. 33, 14825-14839. (*Equal contribution.)
29. Lai, C.S.W., Franke, T.F., Gan, W.-B. (2012) Opposite effects of fear conditioning and extinction on dendritic spines remodelling. Nature. 483, 87-91.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpfw0DjEiNU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFWC7RarhlU
• https://dw-media.tkww.hk/epaper/wwp/20231229/a08-1229.pdf
• http://pdf.wenweipo.com/2014/09/19/a14-0919.pdf