Dr. Wu’ postdoctoral work has made significant contributions to the study of immunology, metabolism and microenvironment: (1) the development of a novel in vivo naive T cell genetic screening system, greatly accelerating in vivo functional study of T cells; (2) the first identification of a gene that is selectively required by pathogenic but dispensable in nonpathogenic Th17 cells, addressing a critical question in the study of Th17 and autoimmunity; and (3) the insight that cellular metabolism can modulate immune cell function in a tissue microenvironment-specific manner, paving new research directions in immunometabolism (Cell, first author and co-corresponding author). In addition, Dr. Wu’s graduate work characterized molecular mechanisms by which three USH I proteins regulate the development of inner ear hair cells and how their mutations lead to deafness (Science, JBC, PNAS). His work has been recognized by a National Multiple Sclerosis Society Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, the NIH/NCI Institutional Postdoctoral Training Grant Award, the Hong Kong Young Scientist Award, and with an invitation to chair a Keystone symposium session etc.

To build upon his postdoctoral findings going forward, Dr. Wu will further investigate the relationship between microbiota, immune system and neuronal system, with the use of mouse models of autoimmune, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. The questions being asked are 1) how do immune cells orchestrate metabolic adaptation to microenvironments, 2) how do microbial metabolites impact immune function, and 3) how do peripheral immune activities modulate CNS function? Dr. Wu hopes his work can reveal novel mechanisms of immune regulation, and ultimately improve therapeutics for these immune disorders.