Research interests

We are interested in understanding the role of central nervous system, particularly hypothalamus, in the regulation of systemic energy balance. 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 by proteomic approach. The results of our study will help to identify novel drug targets to treat obesity and/or obesity-related syndrome.

Education

2005  Ph.D.  Cell Biology    Peking Union Medical College / Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

2000 B.Sc.   Biochemistry  Jilin University

Work experience

2014-  Professor  School of Public Health Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology

2009-2013  Research Fellow   Department of Molecular Pharmacology Albert Einstein College of Medicine New York, New York

2007-2009  Research Associate  Department of Physiology University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin

2006-2007  Postdoctoral Associate   Department of Animal Science University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont

Grants

2016- National Natural Science Foundation of China – General Program

2016- National Natural Science Foundation of China – Major Plan (Preliminary Program)

2014- 1000 Young Talents Program

Professional service

2012- Reviewer, PLoS One

Society memberships

2015- China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics –Aging and anti-aging branch

2014- Chinese Preventive Medicine Association – Toxicology branch

2010- The Endocrine Society

2011 The New York Academy of Sciences

Selected Publications

1. Wu L#, Meng J#, Shen Q, Zhang Y, Pan S, Chen Z, Zhu L, Lu Y, Zhang G.

Caffeine inhibits hypothalamic A₁R to excite oxytocin neuron and ameliorate dietary obesity.

Nature Communications. Accepted.

2. Kim MS, Yan J, Wu W, Zhang G, Zhang Y, Cai D.

Rapid linkage of innate immunological signals to adaptive immunity by the brain-fat axis.

Nature Immunology. 2015. 16: 525-33.

3. 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: 211-6.

4. 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: 883-7.

5. 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: 523-35.

6. Zhang G, Cai D.

Circadian intervention of obesity development via resting-stage feeding manipulation or oxytocin treatment.

American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2011. 301:E1004-12.

7. Zhang H, Zhang G, Gonzalez FJ, Park SM, Cai D.

Hypoxia-inducible factor directs POMC gene to mediate hypothalamic glucose sensing and energy

balance regulation.

PLoS Biology. 2011; 9: e1001112.

8. Purkayastha S, Zhang H, Zhang G, Ahmed Z, Wang Y, Cai D.

Neural dysregulation of peripheral insulin action and blood pressure by brain endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2011; 108: 2939-44.

9. Zhang X#, Zhang G#, Zhang H#, Karin M, Bai H, Cai D.

Hypothalamic IKKβ/NF-κB and ER stress link overnutrition to energy imbalance and obesity.

Cell. 2008. 135: 61-73.

# Equal Contribution.