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.
Yang Laboratory
From Sex Hormones to Metabolic Control: How the Brain Regulates Energy Homeostasis
Sex differences are a fundamental feature of metabolic physiology, influencing feeding behavior, body weight, glucose homeostasis, and susceptibility to metabolic disorders. Sex hormones and their receptors provide critical signals through which the brain senses and integrates the physiological state of the body, yet how these signals are translated into sex-specific neural and behavioral responses remains incompletely understood. The Yang laboratory studies the molecular and neural mechanisms through which sex hormone-responsive neurons and their associated neural circuits regulate energy homeostasis and metabolism. We are particularly interested in neurons expressing receptors for estrogen, androgen, prolactin, and other hormonal signals; and in how these neuronal populations contribute to sex differences in feeding, body weight, and glucose regulation. We integrate cutting-edge molecular and cellular technologies with genetic, neuroscience, and behavioral approaches to identify the central mechanisms through which hormonal and metabolic signals shape neural function and behavior. Our ultimate goal is to translate these mechanistic insights into rational therapeutic strategies for obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders in men and women.
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.
McDermott Laboratory
Hungry Minds: Where Metabolism Meets Mental Health
How does the brain sense the needs of the body and translate that information into behavior? The McDermott Laboratory investigates the neural circuits that integrate internal physiological signals with environmental cues to shape feeding, motivation, and emotional state. We are particularly interested in interoceptive brain regions, including the insular cortex, and their interactions with neuromodulatory systems such as serotonin. Using circuit, cellular, and behavioral approaches, we aim to understand how these pathways coordinate metabolic and psychiatric health. Furthermore, we explore how their dysfunction may contribute to conditions such as obesity, depression, and anxiety. Ultimately, our goal is to identify neural mechanisms that bridge the traditional divide between mental and metabolic health and reveal new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
Li Laboratory
Decoding the Dysfunction of Social Neurobiology in Mental Health Disorders
Social behaviors are essential for survival, reproduction, and individual and societal well-being, yet the neural mechanisms that govern these behaviors remain incompletely understood. Research in the Li Lab aims to uncover the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms that regulate social behaviors, with a primary focus on aggression and parental behaviors under both physiological and pathological conditions. We integrate multidisciplinary approaches to identify the specific neural populations, molecular pathways, and circuit mechanisms that shape these behaviors. By connecting fundamental discoveries in social neurobiology with the pathophysiology of mental health disorders, our research seeks to advance a mechanistic understanding of psychiatric conditions associated with dysregulated social behaviors and to identify novel targets and strategies for therapeutic intervention.