Research Interest

Our laboratory uses genetics and genomic approaches, mainly mouse model and molecular biology, to explore patterns of gene expression in both human cancer cell line model systems and in tumors, with the goals of better understanding tumorigenesis, and developing nove therapeutic strategies. We are currently focusing on liver cancer and related liver diseases prior to cancer formation. One of the main research subjects of my lab is to identify candidate oncogenes that can be used as therapeutic target. We use both hydrodynamic injection primary hepatocellular caicinoma mouse model to validate the oncogenes and exnograft mouse model to explore the feasibility of the candidate genes as a therapeutic target. We recently identified Bmi1 gene as a novel candidate oncogene in liver cancers and can be used as treatment targets. We also explored its mechanisms by which Bmi1 drives and maintains the growth of liver cancer. The project has helped to identify more signaling molecules important in hepatic carcinogenesis, which may also be used as targets for chemotherapy. Another exciting research is targeted delivery of siRNA based therapeutic agents. Lack of effective delivery approach is one of the major obstacles for the development of gene treatment based on siRNA，miRNA or other ncRNA. We are currently applying cancer specific targeting liposomes or goldnanos to deliver the siRNA or miRNA suppressing the critical oncogenes or overexrpressing the tumor suppressing genes. Besides these two subjects, our team also explored the role of lipid accumulation in hepatic carcinogenesis and formation of fatty livers. We also explored the new indication study of drugs approved for other diseases to treat fatty liver, as well as prevent the formation of liver cancers.

Education

Doctor--Molecular biology--Tongji Medical School, HUST, Wuhan, China--2010

Oversea Study and Visit

Oversea Training,University of Carlifornia, San Francisco,USA,2008-01-01-2010-04-30

Academic Memberships

Honours and Awards

Honours and Awards