Mengya Wang
Mengya Wang earned her MS degree from the University of Kansas in May 2016, where she worked with Dr. Nancy Muma to investigate SUMOylation of serotonin 1A receptors in depression. She earned her PhD from the University of Iowa in May 2022, working in Dr. Andrew Russo’s lab to study the role of cerebellar CGRP in migraine. She then joined Dr. K.C. Brennan’s lab at the University of Utah as a postdoctoral researcher, where she used in vivo two-photon imaging to investigate spinal cord mechanisms underlying migraine.
In August 2026, Mengya joined Dr. Levi Sowers’ lab at the University of Iowa. Her current research focuses on the mechanisms underlying sensory hypersensitivity in migraine and post-traumatic headache, with the goal of advancing our understanding of these disorders and guiding the development of new treatments.
Publications
Wang M, Tutt JO, Dorricott NO, Parker KL, Russo AF and Sowers LP. Involvement of the cerebellum in migraine. Front. Syst. Neurosci. (2022) 16:984406. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.984406
Wang M, Castonguay WC, Duong TL, Huebner MW, Flinn HC, Greenway AM, et al. Stimulation of CGRP-expressing neurons in the medial cerebellar nucleus induces light and touch sensitivity in mice. Neurobiol Pain (2022) 12:100098. doi: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2022.100098.
Wang M, Duong TL, Rea BJ, Waite JS, Huebner MW, Flinn HC, Russo AF, Sowers LP. CGRP administration into the cerebellum evokes light aversion, tactile hypersensitivity, and nociceptive squint in mice. Front. Pain Res. (2022) 3:861598. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2022.861598
Wang M, Mason BN, Sowers LP, Kuburas A, Rea BJ, Russo AF. Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior using Light Aversion in Mice. JoVE (2021) (174):e62839. doi: 10.3791/62839
Wang M, Wattiez A-S, Russo AF. CGRP Antibodies for Animal Models of Primary and Secondary Headache Disorders. Monoclonal Antibodies in Headache: From Bench to Patient. (2021). p. 69-97.
Gupta S, Wang M, Azuma Y, Muma NA. Regulation of Serotonin 1A Receptor SUMOylation by SENP2 and PIASxα. Int J Mol Sci. (2021) doi: 10.3390/ijms222413176.
Sowers LP, Wang M, Rea BJ, Taugher RJ, Kuburas A, Kim Y, et al. Stimulation of Posterior Thalamic Nuclei Induces Photophobic Behavior in Mice. Headache (2020) 60(9):1961-81. doi: 10.1111/head.13917.
