Research Interest

We are interested in understanding the role of central nervous system, particularly hypothalamus, in the regulation of whole-body energy. Specifically, we are interested to characterize the metabolic function of genes in the hypothalamus by combinatorially using high-throughput DNA sequencing, genetically engineered mice, metabolic phenotyping and biochemical approaches; elucidate the role of genes or loci identified through large scale genome-wide association study (GWAS); identify and characterize novel genes controlling whole-body energy balance. The results of our study will help to identify novel drug targets to treat obesity and/or obesity-related syndrome.

Education

Doctor--Cell Biology--Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China--2005

Oversea Study and Visit

Post Doctoral,Albert Einstein College of Medicine,United States of America,-

Post Doctoral,University of Wisconin-Madison,United States of America,-

Academic Memberships

Honours and Awards

Honours and Awards

[1] Zhang G, Li J, Purkayastha S, Tang Y, Zhang H, Yin Y, Li B, Liu G, Cai D,Hypothalamic programming of systemic ageing involving IKK-β, NF-κB and GnRH,Nature,2013,;497(7448):211-6.

[2] Purkayastha S, Zhang G, Cai D,Uncoupling the mechanisms of obesity and hypertension by targeting hypothalamic IKK-β and NF-κB,Nature Medicine,2011,;17(7):883-7.

[3] Zhang G, Bai H, Zhang H, Dean C, Wu Q, Li J, Guariglia S, Meng Q, Cai D,Neuropeptide exocytosis involving synaptotagmin-4 and oxytocin in hypothalamic programming of body weight and energy balance,Neuron,2011,;69(3):523-35.