Disease and Medicine
Listed below are the research projects that our researchers are involved in.
Misregulation and Dysfunction of RNA Processing in Neurological Disorders
Mutations in RNA binding proteins and splice sites can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. Emerging evidence also suggest neurodegenerative diseases exhibit misregulated splicing events. We study how alternative splicing and NMD are mis-regulated in neurodegenerative diseases, and how genetic risk variants in RNA binding proteins and splicing substrates contribute to disease pathogenesis. In keeping with their morphological and functional complexity mammalian brains make the most extensive use of alternative splicing and NMD. Such complexity increases the possibility of gene expression going haywire and consequently brain disease. On the other hand, we envision cell type specific RNA processing events could be harnessed to develop therapies of higher specificity and efficacy.
VISIT DR. SIKA ZHENG'S PROFILE
RNA viruses; RNAi; viral suppressors of RNAi (VSRs)
My lab investigates the host immune responses to RNA viruses and their counter-defense strategies. Studies from my lab and others have shown that the conserved RNA interference (RNAi) pathway directs a potent antiviral immunity mechanism against RNA viruses in plants, insects, nematodes and mammals. As a result, successful virus infection requires active suppression of antiviral RNAi by viral suppressors of RNAi (VSRs). Currently, we focus on the mechanistic and functional characterization of antiviral RNAi in plants and mammals.
VISIT DR. SHOU-WEI DING'S PROFILE
RNA viruses/Vaccine Development/Drug Discovery
Our research program emphasizes on elucidating the contributions of both viral and host determinants to viral virulence associated with emerging pathogenic RNA viruses, with the ultimate goal to develop novel therapeutic options, antivirals and vaccines, against these viruses. Currently, our working models include influenza, ZIKA and SARS-2 viruses.
VISIT DR. RONG HAI'S PROFILE
Cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, small non-coding RNAs
The focus of my laboratory is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. My research program has focused on how chronic inflammation and xenobiotic exposures increase the risk of atherosclerosis and metabolic disorders. Our research has revealed important new functions of several key signaling pathways including xenobiotic receptor PXR and inflammatory mediator IKKβ in the regulation of inflammation, xenobiotic metabolism, atherogenesis, obesity, and insulin resistance. We are currently investigating how newly discovered small non-coding RNAs (e.g., tsRNAs) contribute to the development of cardiometabolic disease.
VISIT DR. CHANGCHENG ZHOU'S PROFILE