Email

qiw@bcm.edu

Positions

Assistant Professor

Pediatrics-Nutrition
Childrens Nutrition Research Center
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX US

Addresses

Children's Nutrition Research Center (Office)

Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-0512
qiw@bcm.edu

Education

PhD from University of Georgia

12/2005 - Athens, Georgia United States

Molecular and Cellular Biology

BS from Nanjing University

06/2000 - Nanjing, China

Biology

Post-Doctoral Fellowship at University of Washington and HHMI

12/2011 - Seattle, Washington United States

Neuroscience

Professional Statement

Dr. Wu's group makes extensive use of genetic mouse models including methods for viral mediated gene and cellular ablation, cell-type specific neural circuit mapping, in combined with pharmacology and electrophysiological methods as well as behavioral and metabolic profiling, to understand fundamental mechanisms regulating feeding behavior, neuroendocrine, energy homeostasis, neuropsychiatric states, and cognitive behavior, under normal conditions and in obesity as well as neurological abnormalities. Current lab research focus primarily on areas: 1) characterize functional circuitry of metabolic-sensing PBN neurons and their roles in control of feeding and energy homeostasis, 2) identify a hindbrain neural circuit and associated signaling pathways (including GABA, glutamate, serotonin, and dopamine system) that mediate feeding and energy expenditure, as well as addictive response to food in transgenic mouse models, 3) characterize functional connectivity and relevant signaling systems of a neural circuit connecting the hypothalamic AgRP neurons and postsynaptic targets located in selective forebrain and midbrain areas (such as the BNST, PVT, MPO, and DRN) that synergistically mediate feeding, thermogenesis, mental and cognitive deficiency in obesity-associated neurological disorders, 4) develop a combinatory genetic toolbox that is suitable for neural circuit mapping and inducible, cell type-specific, gene targeting. Our lab's long-term goals are to expand fundamental knowledge of the neural and molecular basis that underlie the control of feeding behavior.

Websites

Selected Publications

• Han, Y., Xia, G., Srisai, D., Meng, F., He, Y., Ran, Y., He, Y., Farias, M., Hoang, G., Tóth, I., Dietrich, M., Chen, M.H., Xu, Y., and Wu, Q. "Deciphering an AgRP-serotoninergic neural circuit in distinct control of energy metabolism from feeding.." Nat Commun.2021;:
• Han, Y., Xia, G., Meng, F., He, Y., He, Y., Farias, M., Xu, Y., and Wu, Q. "A hindbrain dopaminergic neural circuit prevents weight gain by reinforcing food satiation.." Science Advances.2021;: Pubmed PMID: 34039606
• Xia, G., Han, Y., Meng, F., He, Y., Srisai, D., Farias, M., Dang, M., Palmiter, R.D., Xu, Y., and Wu, Q. "Reciprocal control of obesity and anxiety–depressive disorder via a GABA and serotonin neural circuit.." Mol Psychiatry.2021;: Pubmed PMID: 33767348
• He, Y., Liu, H., Yin, N., Yang, Y., Wang, C., Yu, M., Liu, H., Liang, C., Wang, J., Tu, L., Zhang, N., Wang, L., He, Y., Fukuda, M., Wu, Q., Sun, Z., Tong, Q. & Xu, Y. "Barbadin potentiates long-term effects of lorcaserin on POMC neurons and weight loss.." 2021;: Pubmed PMID: 34031163