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Feng Tao, PhD, MD

Feng Tao
Feng Tao, PhD, MD

Professor & Associate Department Head

Contact

Department of Biomedical Sciences
3302 Gaston Ave.
Dallas, TX 75246
ftao81@tamu.edu
Phone: 214.828.8272
Fax: 214.874.4538

Biography

Education and Post-Graduate Training

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (2000-2005)
  • PhD., Neurobiology, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China (2000)
  • MS., Neurophysiology, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, China (1992)
  • MD., Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China (1986)

Career History

  • Associate Department Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (2022-present)
  • Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (2022-present)
  • Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (2014-2022)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2009-2014)
  • Instructor, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2007-2009)
  • Research Associate, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2005-2006)
  • Physician (Neurology), Department of Neurology, Nanjing Medical University Brain Hospital (1992-1997)
  • Teaching/Research Assistant, Department of Physiology, Wannan Medical College (1986-1989)

Teaching Interests

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurobiology of Pain

Research Interests 

Dr. Tao's research interests focuses on investigating central mechanisms underlying nociceptive transmission and analyzing neural circuits for chronic pain including different types of orofacial pain. His lab employs state-of-the-art techniques to dissect brain neural circuits that mediate pain processing in the central nervous system. His lab also characterizes the antinociceptive effect of neuromodulation using optogenetic stimulation. In the clinic, use of invasive electrical or non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation of brain structures has been reported for the alleviation of intractable chronic pain. However, the mechanisms underlying the antinociceptive effect of neuromodulation remain to be illustrated. The recent development of optogenetics, a revolutionary research tool, combines the delivery of light having specific wavelengths (opto) with the introduction of genes encoding light-sensitive transmembrane channels (genetics) and makes possible highly precise spatial and temporal control of specific neuronal populations. They also utilize chemogenetic manipulation to investigate the mechanisms by which neuromodulation controls pain. Moreover, Dr. Tao has developed a new line of research to investigate the role of gut-brain crosstalk in temporomandibular joint pain and migraine. His lab analyzes gut microbiome and relevant metabolites to determine the involvement of gut microbiota in orofacial pain conditions, and these studies may lead to important insights into novel non-opioid pain-killer development.

Grants and Funding

  • Female-specific role of trigeminal dynorphin in temporomandibular disorder and its comorbidity. NIH/NIDCR R01 DE032061 (PI) 08/01/2022-07/31/2027
  • Short-chain fatty acids and chronic temporomandibular joint pain. NIH/NIDCR R01 DE031255 (PI) 01/05/2022-12/31/2026
  • Allosteric targeting of cannabinoid CB1 receptor to develop non-addictive small molecule analgesics. NIH/NINDS UG3 NS128439 (MPI) 09/01/2022-08/31/2024
  • Estradiol and Zoster Associated Orofacial Pain. NIH/NIDCR R01 DE026749 (Co-I) 04/01/2018-03/31/2023
  • A glia-to-neuron conversion for treating oral cancer pain. CPRIT RP220626 (PI) 12/01/2022-11/30/2024
  • Next-generation of Wirelessly Powered Implantable Neuromodulation and Electrophysiological Recording System for Long-term Behavior Study of Freely-Moving Animals. NSF ECCS 1943990 (Co-I) 02/01/2020-01/31/2025
  • Role of gut microbiota in epigenetic regulation of opioid-induced hyperalgesia and chronic pain. Texas A&M University Interdisciplinary Faculty T3 Award (PI)

Selected Publications 

  1. F Tao, QF Su, JR Zhang. 1994 Analysis of the acetylcholine action on the electrical activities of pancreatic islet B-cells in mice. Acta Physiologica Sinica 46:105-111
  2. F Tao, XX He, WY Hu. 1997 Clinical significance of measuring carotid artery blood flow velocity in TIA patients. J Clinical Neurology 10:253
  3. F Tao, LM Zhang, FY Sun. 1999 Hypoxia-ischemia altered expression of glutamate transporter EAAT1 in neonatal rat brain. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 20:107-111
  4. F Tao, SD Lu, LM Zhang, YL Huang, FY Sun. 2001 Role of glutamate transporter EAAT1 in neuronal damage induced by hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rats. Neuroscience 102:503-513
  5. F Tao, Y-X Tao, JA Gonzalez, M Fang, P Mao, RA Johns. 2001 Knockdown of PSD-95/SAP90 delays the development of neuropathic pain in rats. NeuroReport 12:3251-3255
  6. M Fang, Y-X Tao, F He, M Zhang, CF Levine, P Mao, F Tao, C-L Chou, S Sadegh-Nasseri, RA Johns. 2003 Synaptic PDZ domain-mediated protein interactions are disrupted by inhalational anesthetics. J Biol Chem 278:36669-36675
  7. F Tao, Y-X Tao, P Mao, C Zhao, D Li, W-J Liaw, SN Raja, RA Johns. 2003 Intact carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia in mice lacking inducible nitric oxide synthase. Neuroscience 120:847-854
  8. Y-X Tao, G Rumbaugh, G-D Wang, RS Petralia, C Zhao, FW Kauer, F Tao, M Zhuo, RJ Wenthold, SN Raja, RL Huganir, DS Bredt, RA Johns. 2003 Impaired NMDA receptor-mediated postsynaptic function and blunted NMDA receptor-dependent persistent pain in mice lacking postsynaptic density-93 protein. J Neurosci 23:6703-6712
  9. F Tao, Y-X Tao, P Mao, RA Johns. 2003 Role of postsynaptic density protein-95 in the maintenance of peripheral nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain in rats. Neuroscience 117:731-739
  10. B Zhang, F Tao, W-J Liaw, DS Bredt, RA Johns, Y-X Tao. 2003 Effect of knock down of spinal cord PSD-93/chapsin-110 on persistent pain induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant and peripheral nerve injury. Pain 106:187-196
  11. F Tao, W-J Liaw, B Zhang, M Yaster, JD Rothstein, RA Johns, Y-X Tao. 2004 Evidence of neuronal excitatory amino acid carrier 1 expression in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and their central terminals. Neuroscience 123:1045-1051
  12. W-J Liaw, B Zhang, F Tao, M Yaster, RA Johns, Y-X Tao. 2004 Knockdown of spinal cord postsynaptic density protein-95 prevents the development of morphine tolerance in rats. Neuroscience 123:11-15
  13. F Tao, Y-X Tao, C Zhao, S Dore, W-J Liaw, SN Raja, RA Johns. 2004 Differential roles of neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthases during carrageenan-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia. Neuroscience 128:421-430
  14. F Tao, J Skinner, Q Su, RA Johns. 2006 New role for spinal stargazin in AMPA receptor-mediated pain sensitization after inflammation. J Neurosci Res 84:867-873
  15. F Tao, RA Johns. 2008 Effect of disrupting N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor/postsynaptic density protein-95 interactions on the threshold for halothane anesthesia in mice. Anesthesiology 108:882-887
  16. F Tao*, Q Su, RA Johns. 2008 Cell-permeable peptide Tat-PSD-95 PDZ2 inhibits chronic inflammatory pain behaviors in mice. Mol Ther 16:1776-1782 (*corresponding author)
  17. F Tao, J Skinner, Y Yang, RA Johns. 2010 Effect of PSD-95/SAP90 and/or PSD-93/Chapsyn-110 deficiency on the minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration of halothane in mice. Anesthesiology 112:1444-1451
  18. X Chi, T Amet, D Byrd, K Chang, K Shah, N Hu, A Grantham, S Hu, J Duan, F Tao, G Nicol, Q Yu. 2011 Direct effects of HIV-1 Tat on excitability and survival of primary dorsal root ganglion neurons: possible contribution to HIV-1-associated pain. PLoS ONE 6:e24412
  19. F Tao*, Q Li, S Liu, H Wu, J Skinner, A Hurtado, V Belegu, O Furmanski, Y Yang, JW McDonald, RA Johns. 2013 Role of neuregulin-1/ErbB signaling in stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury-induced chronic neuropathic pain. Stem Cells 31:83-91 (*co-corresponding author)
  20. C Li, S Liu, Y Xing, F Tao*. 2014 Role of hippocampal tau protein phosphorylation in isoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction in transgenic APP695 mice. Anesthesia & Analgesia 119:413-419 ( *corresponding author)
  21. C Li, Y Yang, S Liu, H Fang, Y Zhang, O Furmanski, J Skinner, Y Xing, RA Johns, RL Huganir, F Tao*.  2014   Stress induces pain transition by potentiation of AMPA receptor phosphorylation.  J Neurosci 34:13737-13746 (* corresponding author)
  22. F Tao, Q Chen, Y Sato, J Skinner, P Tang, RA Johns.  2015  Inhalational anesthetics disrupt postsynaptic density protein-95, Drosophila disc large tumor suppressor and zonula occludens-1 domain protein interactions critical to action of several excitatory receptor channels related to anesthesia.  Anesthesiology 122:776-786.
  23. S Liu, C Li, Y Xing, Y Wang, F Tao. 2016.  Role of neuromodulation and optogenetic manipulation in pain treatment.  Curr Neuropharmacol.  14:654-661.
  24. C Li, M Schaefer, C Gray, Y Yang, O Furmanski, S Liu, P Worley, CD Mintz, F Tao, RA Johns. 2016  Sensitivity to isoflurane anesthesia increases in autism spectrum disorder Shank3+/Δc mutant mouse model. Neurotoxicol Teratol Nov. 14/. pii:S0892-0362 (16)30133-7. doi: 10.1016/jntt.2016.11002.
  25. S Liu, Z Zhao, Y Guo, H Shu, C Li, Y Tang, Y Xing, F Tao*. 2017 Spinal AMPA receptor GluA1 Ser831 phosphorylation controls chronic alcohol consumption-produced prolongation of postsurgical pain. Mol Neurobioldoi: 10.1007/s12035-017-0639-7 (*corresponding author)
  26. S Liu, C Li, Y Guo, Y Xing, F Tao*. 2017 PKMζ is not required for development of postsurgical pain. Mol Neurobioldoi: 10.1007/s12035-017-0499-1 (*corresponding author)
  27. Y Tang, S Liu, H Shu, Y Xing, F Tao*. 2018 AMPA receptor GluA1 Ser831 phosphorylation is critical for nitroglycerin-induced migraine-like pain. Neuropharmacology133:462-469 (*corresponding author)
  28. Q Bai, S Liu, H Shu, Y Tang, S George, T Dong, BL Schmidt, F Tao*. 2018 TNFα in the trigeminal nociceptive system is critical for temporomandibular joint pain. Mol Neurobiol doi: 10.1007/s12035-018-1076 (*corresponding author)
  29. S Liu, Y Tang, Y Xing, P Kramer, L Bellinger, F Tao*. 2019 Potential application of optogenetic stimulation in the treatment of pain and migraine headache: a perspective from animal studies. Brain Sci 9(2):26 doi: 10.3390/brainsci9020026 (*corresponding author)
  30. S Liu, Y Tang, H Shu, D Tatum, Q Bai, J Crawford, Y Xing, MK Lobo, L Bellinger, P Kramer, F Tao*. 2019 Dopamine receptor D2, but not D1, mediates descending dopaminergic pathway-produced analgesic effect in a trigeminal neuropathic pain mouse model. Pain160:334-344 (*corresponding author)
  31. ZW Kou, JL Mo, KW Wu, MH Qiu, YL Huang, F Tao, Y Lei, LL Lv, FY Sun. 2019 Vascular endothelial growth factor increases the function of calcium-impermeable AMPA receptor GluA2 subunit in astrocytes via activation of protein kinase C signaling pathway. Glia67:1344-1358
  32. C Li, S Liu, X Lu, F Tao*. 2019 Role of Descending Dopaminergic Pathways in Pain Modulation. Current Neuropharmacology17:1176-1182 (*corresponding author)  
  33. Y Tang, S Liu, H Shu, L Yanagisawa, F Tao*. 2020 Gut microbiota dysbiosis enhances migraine-like pain via TNFα upregulation. Molecular Neurobiology57:461-468 (*corresponding author)
  34. Y Ma, S Liu, H Shu, J Crawford, Y Xing, F Tao*. 2020 Resveratrol alleviates temporomandibular joint inflammatory pain by recovering disturbed gut microbiota. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity PMID: 32001342, DOI: 10.1016/j/bbi.2020.01.016 (*corresponding author)
  35. H Shu, S Liu, Y Tang, B Schmidt, J Dolan, L Bellinger, P Kramer, S Bender, F Tao*. 2020 A preexisting myogenic TMD increases trigeminal CGRP and enhances NTG-induced hypersensitivity in mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences21(11):4049 (*corresponding author)
  36. S Liu, H Shu, J Crawford, Y Ma, C Li, F Tao*. 2020 Optogenetic Activation of Dopamine Receptor D1 and D2 Neurons in Anterior Cingulate Cortex Differentially Modulates Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain. Mol Neurobiol 57:4060-4068 (*corresponding author)
  37. J Crawford, S Liu, F Tao*. 2021 A Multidisciplinary Approach to Simultaneously Monitoring Real-Time Neuronal Activity and Pain Behaviors During Optogenetic Stimulation of Brain Neurons in Freely Moving Mice. J Pain Res 14:3503-3509 (*corresponding author)
  38. S Liu, P Kramer, F Tao*. 2021 Editorial: Mechanisms of Orofacial Pain and Sex Differences. Front Integr Neurosci 15:599580 doi: 10.3389/fnint.2021.599580 (*corresponding author)
  39. S Liu, F Tao*. 2022 A potential application of glia-to-neuron conversion for the treatment of neurological disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol 20:891-892 (*corresponding author)
  40. J Crawford, S Liu, F Tao*. 2022 Gut microbiota and migraine. Neurobiol Pain doi: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2022.100090 (*corresponding author)

 National Service / Recognition

  • 2022 Invited Reviewer, NIH Study Section ZRG1 F02B, USA
  • 2022 Invited Reviewer, NIH Study Section NEI Special Emphasis Panel, USA
  • 2021 Invited Reviewer, NIH Study Section ZRG1 F02B, USA
  • 2020 Invited Reviewer, NIH HEAL Initiative Special Panel, USA
  • 2020-present, Member of Editorial Board (Section Editor), Current Neuropharmacology
  • 2020-present, Member of Editorial Board, Frontiers in Pain Research
  • 2020 Invited Member of “Sigma Xi” Scientific Research Honor Society
  • 2019 Invited Reviewer, NIH Sensory and Motor Neuroscience, Cognition and Perception Fellowship, USA
  • 2018-present, Member of Editorial Board, Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
  • 2018 Invited Reviewer, NIH/NCCIH Special Emphasis Panel ZAT1 AJT (09), USA
  • 2017-present, Member of Editorial Board, Current Neurobiology
  • 2017 Invited Reviewer, The French National Research Agency (ANR), France
  • 2017 Elected member of Faculty Senate at Texas A&M University
  • 2017 Basic Science Faculty Research Award at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry
  • 2016 Outstanding Abstract Award in 2016 International Neural Regeneration Symposium
  • 2015 Invited Reviewer, Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Spinal Cord Injury and Neuropathic Pain Panel
  • 2015 Elected member of “Board of Directors” at Texas Pain Research Consortium
  • 2014 Invited Reviewer, NIH NRCS Study Section, USA
  • 2014-present, Member of Editorial Board, Neural Regeneration Research
  • 2014 Invited Reviewer, The Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership Regenerative Medicine Initiative, UK
  • 2014 Invited Reviewer, Arizona Biomedical Research Commission, USA
  • 2014 Invited Reviewer, Wings for Life−Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Austria
  • 2013-present, Member of Editorial Board, American Journal of Stem Cells
  • 2012 Invited Reviewer, Wings for Life−Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Austria
  • 2011-present, Member of Editorial Board, World Journal of Experimental Medicine
  • 2010 Gold Medal Poster Award in the 12th Annual ACCM Research Day
  • 2009 Mail Reviewer, NSF-sponsored Pilot Funding at Louisiana State University
  • 2008 Best Oral Presentation Award in the 10th Annual ACCM Research Day
  • 2003-present Peer Reviewer, Journal of Neuroscience; Neuropharmacology; Pain; Behavioural Brain Research; Trends in Neurosciences; Anesthesiology; NeuroReport; Neuroscience; Brain Research; Naunyn-Schmiedeberg Archives of Pharmacology; World Journal of Experimental Medicine; Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment; Life Sciences; Neural Regeneration Research; American Journal of Stem Cells; Drug Design, Development and Therapy; World Journal of Pharmacology; Brain Research Bulletin; Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience; Molecules; Frontiers in Pharmacology; Cells; International Journal of Molecular Sciences; World Journal of Orthopedics; PLOS ONE; Pharmaceuticals; Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences; Journal of Pain Research; Current Neurobiology; Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience; Physiology & Behavior; Frontiers in Pain Research; European Journal of Pain; Journal of Pain; Neuromolecular Medicine; Neurotoxicity Research; Journal of Neuroinflammation; Molecular Pain; Molecular Neurobiology; Neurotoxicity Research; Journal of Neuroscience Research; Journal of Headache and Pain; Current Neuropharmacology