SUMMARY
Wenqian Hu, Ph.D., studies molecular mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulations of gene expression in mammalian cell differentiation and responses to environmental stimuli. In particular, Dr. Hu focuses on functional and mechanistic characterization of RNA-binding proteins and noncoding RNAs in hematopoiesis and innate immune responses.
Focus areas
- Erythropoiesis. Dr. Hu is investigating how several erythroid-specific RNA-binding proteins and long noncoding RNAs control the production of red blood cells.
- Innate immune responses. Dr. Hu is working to decipher the post-transcriptional regulatory networks in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Hu's work focuses on fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of gene expression. Since dysregulation of gene expression is the cause of a wide variety of pathological conditions (cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, for example), the results from these basic mechanistic studies are essential for developing novel therapeutic approaches to many diseases.
Professional highlights
- Recipient, Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), National Institutes of Health, 2013-2018
- Merck Fellow, Life Science Research Foundation, 2011-2013
- Outstanding mentoring in undergraduate research, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012
- Recipient, Doctoral Excellence Award in Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2011
- Predoctoral fellowship, American Heart Association, 2007-2009