iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jingliang (Simon) Zhang @simonomisz.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Many thanks to Brian, Clayton and @sethblackshaw.bsky.social for the computational analysis, Caterina, Meghana and Ya-Wen for the samples, and @bobbyjeyeguy.bsky.social for the mentorship and support throughout the journey. Thrilled to see what discoveries lie ahead! 👀

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Jingliang (Simon) Zhang @simonomisz.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Excited to share my PhD work! We characterize waves of cell death during human retinal development, and show how blocking apoptosis promotes RGC long-term survival and alters their developmental dynamics in organoids. These findings will improve future organoid design for retinal disease modeling‼️

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Reposted by Jingliang (Simon) Zhang

Seth Blackshaw @sethblackshaw.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Our latest preprint is out, focusing on characterizing the response of Lhx6-positive neurons of the zona incerta (ZI) to naturally-occurring and experimentally-induced changes in the need to sleep, also known as sleep pressure. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

biorxiv.org

Sleep pressure is differentially regulated by molecularly distinct subtypes of Lhx6-positive and Lhx6-negative neurons of the zona incerta

Sleep pressure, the accumulating drive towards sleep during wakefulness, is shaped by Lhx6-positive GABAergic neurons in the zona incerta (ZI). Here, we show that these neurons are broadly activated b...

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Reposted by Jingliang (Simon) Zhang

Bob Johnston @bobbyjeyeguy.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Check out this tour de force work from @christ3na.bsky.social in my lab! Her studies reveal how developmental timing in the retina is controlled like an hourglass. The progenitor:neuron ratio shifts to control signaling levels and trigger photoreceptor development over time. Check it out!!

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Reposted by Jingliang (Simon) Zhang

Rejji Kuruvilla @rkuruvi1.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Happy for this paper to be out on direct circadian-independent effects of light on glucose and lipid metabolism. Spearheaded by student, Xiangning Chen, and in collaboration with Haiqing Zhao and @samerhattar.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

science.org

Light modulates glucose and lipid homeostasis via the sympathetic nervous system

Light exerts circadian-independent effects on glucose and lipid metabolism.

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Jingliang (Simon) Zhang @simonomisz.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Wrapping up my first CSHL meeting #CSHL2024Brain ! Had a great time discussing and learning a lot from this welcoming and inspiring community💡Many thanks to organizers @sergiuppasca.bsky.social and Dr. Guo-li Ming for making this meeting fruitful and enjoyable to all attendees, especially trainees!

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Jingliang (Simon) Zhang @simonomisz.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Heading out of town for the 2024 #cshlbrain meeting at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and ready to dive into the fascinating world of brain organoids!

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