Lei Xing, University of Manitoba

Research

brain development placenta neural stem cells neural progenitor cells cell proliferation cell differentiation signal transduction gene expression

Latest papers

ARHGAP11A maintains cortical progenitor identity through RHOA-ROCK signaling during human brain development.
Cell reports · 2025
Role of cell metabolism in the pathophysiology of brain size-associated neurodevelopmental disorders.
Neurobiology of disease · 2024 · first author
Functional synergy of a human-specific and an ape-specific metabolic regulator in human neocortex development.
Nature communications · 2024 · first author

All 3 publications

Latest funding

Advanced tissue culture and imaging platform for diverse research on plant, animal and human organoid
NSERC · 2025 · Principal investigator
$150,000
Impact of placental factors in the development and evolution of the mammalian brain
NSERC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$44,000
Impact of placental factors in the development and evolution of the mammalian brain
NSERC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$12,500

All 3 grants and awards

3 publications.

01

ARHGAP11A maintains cortical progenitor identity through RHOA-ROCK signaling during human brain development.

Hass Y, Kniep J, Hoffrichter A, Marsoner F, Eşiyok N, Gasparotto M, Xing L, Loco Detto Gava MP, Artioli A, Guida C, Meuth SG, Huttner WB, Jabali A, Heide M, Ladewig J

Cell reports2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116599 PMID: 41307995

02

Role of cell metabolism in the pathophysiology of brain size-associated neurodevelopmental disorders.

Xing L, Huttner WB, Namba T

Neurobiology of disease2024First author

DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106607 PMID: 39029564

03

Functional synergy of a human-specific and an ape-specific metabolic regulator in human neocortex development.

Xing L, Gkini V, Nieminen AI, Zhou HC, Aquilino M, Naumann R, Reppe K, Tanaka K, Carmeliet P, Heikinheimo O, Pääbo S, Huttner WB, Namba T

Nature communications2024First author

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47437-8 PMID: 38658571

Advanced tissue culture and imaging platform for diverse research on plant, animal and human organoid

Principal investigatorNSERC2025Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Xing, Lei

Keywords: developmental biology; stem cell biology; rnai techniologies; neuroethology; body patterning; metazoans; sexual development; evolution; fluorescence microscopy; cell and tissue culture

$150,000

Impact of placental factors in the development and evolution of the mammalian brain

Principal investigatorNSERC2024Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Xing, Lei

Keywords: brain development; placenta; neural stem cells; neural progenitor cells; cell proliferation; cell differentiation; signal transduction; gene expression; growth factors; hormones

$44,000

Impact of placental factors in the development and evolution of the mammalian brain

Principal investigatorNSERC2024Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Xing, Lei

Keywords: brain development; placenta; neural stem cells; neural progenitor cells; cell proliferation; cell differentiation; signal transduction; gene expression; growth factors; hormones

$12,500

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2025

Subject: Prospective PhD student: brain development Dear Professor Xing, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "ARHGAP11A maintains cortical progenitor identity through RHOA-ROCK signaling during human brain development." (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Advanced tissue culture and imaging platform for diverse research on plant, animal and human organoid" (2025), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]