主要以非洲爪蟾为模式动物，研究脊椎动物神经系统发育的分子机制。非洲爪蟾是发育生物学研究的经典动物模型之一，具有取材方便、实验操作简单等优势。实验室主要采用分子生物学、胚胎学等技术，侧重研究神经系统早期发育中图式形成和神经嵴发育的分子机制，以期为预防和治疗人类神经系统发育相关疾病提供理论依据。同时，以脊椎动物的祖先类型—文昌鱼为模型，开展过对其神经发育机制的比较研究，以揭示神经系统发育机制的演化过程。

1.国家重点基础研究发展计划项目子课题，神经系统图式形成与形态发生机制的研究 （2007-2011）
2.国家自然科学基金委重大研究计划培育项目， 叶酸参与神经系统发育调控的表观遗传学机制研究(2010-2012)
3.中国科学院知识创新工程重要方向项目， 重大神经发育缺陷的发生机制和可控性研究(2011-2013)

1.Zhang Y, Mao B, (2010), Embryonic expression and evolutionary analysis of the amphioxus Dickkopf and Kremen family genes. J. Genet. Genomics, 37:637-645
2.Zeng W, Kong Q, Li C, Mao B. (2010), Xenopus RCOR2 (REST corepressor 2) interacts with ZMYND8, which is involved in neural differentiation. Biochem. Biophy. Res. Comm., 394:1024-1029.
3.Kong Q, Zeng W, Wu J, Hu W, Li C, Mao B，(2010), RNF220, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets Sin3B for ubiquitination，Biochem. Biophy. Res. Comm., 393:708-713.
4.Wu J, Li C, Zhao S, Mao B. (2010), Differential expression of the Brunol/CELF family genes during Xenopus laevis early development. Int. J. Dev. Biol., 54：209-214。
5.Shi Y, Zhao S, Li J, Mao B (2009), Islet-1 is required for ventral neuron survival in Xenopus. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 388:506-510。
6.Ma L, Pan XF, Wei YH, Li ZY, Li CC, Yang JX, Mao BY. (2008) Embryonic stages and eye specific gene expression of the local cyprinoid fish Anabarilius grahami in Fuxian Lake, China. J Fish Biol. 73:1946-1959.
7.Zhao S, Jiang H, Wang W, Mao B. (2007), Cloning and developmental expression of the Xenopus Nkx6 genes. Dev Genes Evol., 217:477-483，2007。
8.马莉，孔清华，赵树华，魏云虎,毛炳宇 (2009), Sox2基因3’非翻译区保守元件对基因表达的调控作用, 动物学研究，30: 633-638。
9.Wei Y, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Mao B (2009), Expansion of the actin gene family in amphioxus, Zool Res., 30:473-479。
10.Shi Y, Zhao S, Mao B (2009), Physical blocking neural tube closure affects radial intercalation and neural crest midline-directed migration in Xenopus dorsal explants, Zool Res., 30: 639-644。
11.Zhang Y, Mao B (2009), Developmental expression of an amphioxus (Branchiostoma Belcheri) gene encoding a GATA transcription factor, Zool Res. 30：137-143。
12.武景阳,李朝翠,孔清华,毛炳宇, （2008），利用修饰的随机引物构建非洲爪蟾酵母双杂交定向cDNA 文库, 动物学研究，29:368-372。
13.Ma L, Zhao S, Kong Q, Mao B. （2007），Temporal and spatial expression patterns of Sox1 gene in Xenopus laevis embryos. Zoo. Res., 28:403-408。
14.Mao B and Niehrs C (2003) Kremen2 modulates Dickkopf2 activity during Wnt/LRP6 signaling. Gene, 302:179-183,.
15.Mao B, Wu W, Davidson G, Marhold J, Li M, Mechler BM, Delius H, Hoppe D, Stannek P, Walter C, Glinka A, Niehrs C (2002), Kremen proteins are Dickkopf receptors that regulate Wnt/beta- catenin signalling. Nature, 417:664-667.
16.Davidson G, Mao B, Del Barco Barrantes I, Niehrs C (2002) Kremen proteins interact with Dickkopf1 to regulate anteroposterior CNS patterning. Development, 129:5587-96.
17.Mao B, Wu W, Li Y, Hoppe D, Stannek P, Glinka A, Niehrs C (2001), LDL- receptor-related protein 6 is a receptor for Dickkopf proteins. Nature, 411:321-325.