Research
Xu Laboratory
Leverage “Survival Code” for Human Mental Health
To survive, animals must appropriately engage in a wide range of fundamental behaviors, including feeding, drinking, sleeping, exploring, escaping, learning, socializing and parenting, etc. These behaviors are co-regulated by a small set of genes acting upon a complex and overlapping neural network, to maximize the chance for survival of the individual or the continuation of the species. This “survival code” is evolutionarily conserved and regulates human behaviors. Many mental diseases result from deficits of these genes or deficits in the neural network that are regulated by these genes. Research in the Xu lab aims to tackle the “survival code”, with a goal to leverage the biological mechanisms for these fundamental behaviors to advance the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of human mental diseases.
Tu Laboratory
Interoception and Its Failures: from Glucose Sensing to Motion Sickness
The overarching mission of the Tu laboratory is dedicated to unraveling the neural substrates that translate interoceptive signals into physiological and behavioral homeostasis. We are particularly interested in how the brain's perception of the internal body state fails in disease. We pursue two synergistic research frontiers. First, we investigate the neural mechanisms of metabolic sensing, with a particular emphasis on how the brain detects endocrine signals like glucose to regulate feeding behavior and energy balance, particularly in the contexts of diabetes and obesity. Second, we explore the neural underpinnings of maladaptive brain states, specifically identifying the complex neural mechanisms that drive nausea and vomiting during motion sickness. Research in the Tu laboratory aims to translate molecular discoveries in defined cell populations into a systems-level understanding of both health and disease.
Liu Laboratory
Burn More, Live Better: the Energy–Health Connection
Tightly regulated food intake and energy expenditure are critical for maintaining health and wellbeing. With the rising incidence of obesity and metabolic disorders, there is an urgent need for effective interventions. Although dietary restriction can reduce obesity and related metabolic diseases, its long-term efficacy is limited by side effects, including compensatory decreases in energy expenditure and psychiatric complications. In contrast, cold exposure and exercise are powerful strategies to increase energy expenditure. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that both interventions not only combat obesity and metabolic dysfunction but also improve overall health, e.g. enhancing immunity and cognition. However, the neural mechanisms that drive these beneficial effects remain poorly understood. Research in the Liu laboratory aims to identify and characterize the neural populations and circuits that mediate the health-promoting effects of cold exposure and exercise.
Wang Laboratory
From Metabolism to Motivation: How Internal States Shape Social Behavior
Survival and reproduction require animals to adjust their behavior according to their internal physiological state. Signals related to nutrient availability, hormones, and energy balance provide important information to the brain and can strongly influence motivation and behavior. However, how these metabolic signals are translated into complex behaviors is still not well understood. The Wang laboratory studies how metabolic state influences neural circuits that control motivated behaviors, with a particular interest in social and reproductive behaviors. We use molecular, cellular, neuroscience, and behavioral approaches to identify the signals, cell populations, and neural pathways that connect body state to behavior. Our goal is to understand how the brain integrates metabolic information to guide behavioral decisions and how disruption of these processes may contribute to metabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders.