LING QI, Ph.D.
Division of Nutritional Sciences
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: (607) 254-8857
Email: lq35@cornell.edu
DOB: 10/22/1974
Citizenship: P. R. China
Visa status: Permanent resident
317 Winthrop Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850
Cell: (607) 220 7172
EDUCATION
JULY 1997
B.S. in Microbiology
Degree conferred summa cum laude and with city-level distinctions
Department of Microbiology, Fudan University (Shanghai, China)
JAN 2002
Ph.D. in Immunology
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland (Baltimore, MD, USA)
POSITIONS AND EMPLOYMENT
1997-2001
2001-2004
2004-2007
2007-2013
2013-2016
2016
Graduate student in Immunology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of
Maryland, Baltimore, MD (Advisor: Suzanne Ostrand-Rosenberg)
Postdoctoral fellow in telomere biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics,
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Advisor: Carol Greider)
Research Associate in transcription and metabolism, Salk Institute for Biological Studies,
La Jolla, CA (Advisor: Marc Montminy)
Assistant Professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Associate Professor, with indefinite tenure, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY
Professor, Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan
Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND MEMBERSHIPS
200720092010201120082010-
Member, American Diabetes Association
Member, American Society for Nutrition
Member, American Society for Microbiology
Member, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Reviewer for journals: Cur Mol Med, Diabetes, PNAS, PLoS ONE, J Mol Med, J Clin
Invest, Cell Metabolism, J Hepatology, British Journal of Nutrition, Science and others
Ad hoc reviewer for grant agencies: Alzheimer’s Association, Italian Ministry of Health
(2010, 2011), NIH IPOD study section (09/10, 06/11, 02/13), NIH Special Emphasis
1
2012-2015
2014-2016
2015-2017
2015-2021
2015-2017
Panel ZRG1 EMNR-R (4/14), NIH MCE study section (6/14, 10/14), and NIH CADO
study section (2/14, 2/15)
Member, Advisory committee for graduate field of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell
Biology, Cornell University
Advisory council, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University
Member, Research Grant Review Committee, American Diabetes Association
Standing member, NIH Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity (CADO) study section
Secretary, Chinese American Diabetes Association
HONORS
1995-96
1996-1997
1997
2002-05
2003
2005-07
2007
2008
2008
2011
2012
2012
2013
2014
2014
2015
Monsanto Development Award, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Director Oriental Development Award, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
City Honored student, Shanghai, China
Postdoctoral fellowship from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
The George Santos Award from National Committee of the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society
Postdoctoral fellowship from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Keystone Symposium Scholarship: Peripheral and Central Pathway Regulating Energy
Homeostasis
New Investigator Award in Alzheimer's Disease, Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert
Foundation/American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)
Junior Faculty Award, American Diabetes Association
The Bio-Serv Award, American Society of Nutrition
Career Development Award, American Diabetes Association
Innovative Award, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
The Thomas R. Lee Award, American Diabetes Association
Elected faculty speaker at graduation ceremony, Division of Nutritional Sciences,
Cornell University
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Visiting Professorship, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS (43 total)
TRAINING PERIOD (1999-2007)
1. Qi, L. and Ostrand-Rosenberg, S. 2000. MHC Class II presentation of endogenous tumor antigen
by cellular vaccines depends on the endocytic pathway but not H2-M. Traffic 1: 152–160.
2. Qi, L., Rojas, J., Ostrand-Rosenberg, S. 2000. Tumor cells present MHC class II-restricted nuclear
and mitochondrial antigens and are the predominant antigen presenting cells in vivo. J. Immunol.
165: 5451-5461 PMID:11067897
3. Qi, L. and Ostrand-Rosenberg, S. 2001. H2-O inhibits presentation of bacterial superantigens, but
not endogenous self-antigens. J. Immunol. 167: 1371-8
4. Qi, L., Strong, M.A., Karim, B.O., Armanois, M., Huso, D.L., and Greider, C.W. 2003. Short
telomeres and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) deficiency cooperatively increase telomere
2
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
dysfunction and suppress tumorigenesis. Cancer Res. 63: 8188-96. PMID:14678974
Dolan, B.P., Phelan, T.P., Ilkovitch, D., Qi, L., Wade, W.F., Laufer, T.M., and Ostrand-Rosenberg,
S. 2004. Invariant chain and the MHC class II cytoplasmic domains regulate localization of MHC
class II molecules to lipid rafts in tumor cell-based vaccines. J. Immunol. 172: 907-14.
Qi, L., Strong, M.A., Karim, B.O., Huso, D.L., and Greider, C.W. 2005. Telomere fusion to
chromosome breaks reduces oncogenic translocations and tumor formation. Nature Cell Biology.
7: 706-11. PMID:15965466
Koo, S.H.1, Flechner, L.1, Qi, L. Zhang, X., Screaton, R.A., Jeffries, S., Hedrick, S., Xu, W.,
Boussouar, F., Brindle, P., Takemori, H., and Montminy, M. 2005. The CREB coactivator TORC2
is a key regulator of fasting glucose metabolism. Nature. 437: 1109-11 (1, contribute equally)
PMID: 16148943 Highlighted in Faculty 1000
Qi, L.*, Heredia, J.*, Altarejos, J.Y., Screaton, R., Goebel, N., Niessen, S., MacLeod, I.X., Liew,
C.W., Kulkarni, R., Bain, J., Nelson, M., Evans, R.M., Yates, J., and Montminy, M. 2006. TRB3
links the E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1 to lipid metabolism. Science. 312: 1763-6 PMID:16794074
Highlighted in Faculty 1000 (*, equal contribution)
Qi, L.*, Saberi, M. *, Zmuda, E., Wang, Y., Altarejos, J., Zhang, X., Dentin, R., Hedrick, S.,
Bandyopadhyay, G., Hai, T., Olefsky, J. and Montminy, M. (2009). Adipocyte CREB promotes
insulin resistance in obesity. Cell Metabolism 9, 277-286 (*, equal contribution)
INDEPENDENT PERIOD (2007-present)
2009
10. Sha, H.B.,* He, Y.*, Chen H., Wang, C., Zenno, A., Shi, H., Yang, X., Zhang, X., and Qi, L. 2009.
The IRE1α-XBP1 pathway of the unfolded protein response is required for adipogenesis. Cell
Metabolism. 9, 556-564. PMCID: PMC2963107 Highlighted in Faculty 1000 (*, equal
contribution)
2010
11. Chen, H., and Qi, L. 2010. SUMO modification regulates transcriptional activity of XBP1.
Biochem. J. 429, 95-102. PMCID: PMC2964647
12. Yang, L., Xue, Z., He, Y., Sun, S., Chen, H., and Qi, L. 2010. A Phos-tag-based approach reveals
the extent of physiological endoplasmic reticulum stress. PLoS ONE. 5: e11621. PMCID:
PMC2905412
13. Francisco, A.B., Singh, R., Li, S., Vani, A.K., Yang, L., Munroe, R.J., Diaferia, G., Cardano, M.,
Biunno, I., Qi, L., Schimenti, J.C., and Long, Q. 2010. Deficiency of SEL1L in mice leads to
systemic ER stress and embryonic lethality. J. Biol. Chem. 285: 13694-13703. PMCID:
PMC2859532
14. Zeng, L., Liu, Y. P., Sha, H., Chen, H., Qi, L., and Smith, J.A. 2010. XBP1 couples ER stress to
augmented IFN-β induction via a cis-acting enhancer in macrophages. J. Immunol. 185: 2324-30.
PMCID: PMC2916979
15. Zmuda, E. J., Qi, L., Zhu, M., Mirmira, R., Montminy, M. and Hai, T. 2010. The role of ATF3, an
adaptive-responsive gene, in high fat diet induced diabetes and pancreatic beta cell
dysfunction. Mol. Endo. 24: 1423-33. PMCID: PMC2903910
16. Liew, C.W., Bochenski, J., Kawamori, D., Hu, J., Leech, C.A., Wanic, K., Malecki, M., Warram, J.,
Qi, L., Krolewski, A.S., and Kulkarni, R.N. 2010. The tribbles protein interacts with ATF4 to regulate
insulin exocytosis in human and mouse beta-cells. J. Clin. Invest. 120: 2876-88. PMCID:
PMC2912176
17. Lichtenstein, L., Mattijssen, F., de Wit, N. J., Georgiadi, A., Hooiveld, G. J., van der Meer, R., He,
3
Y., Qi, L. Koster, A., Tamsma, J.T., Tan, N. S., Muller, M., and Kersten, S. 2010. Angptl4 protects
against severe pro-inflammatory effects of dietary saturated fat by inhibiting lipoprotein
lipase-dependent uptake of fatty acids in mesenteric lymph node macrophages. Cell Metabolism.
12: 580-92. PMCID: PMC3387545
2011
18. Francisco, A.B., Singh, R., Sha, H., Yan, X., Qi, L., Lei, X. and Long, Q. 2011. Haploid insufficiency
of suppressor enhancer Lin12 1 like (SEL1L) predisposes mice to high fat diet-induced
hyperglycemia. J. Biol. Chem. 286: 22275-82. PMCID: PMC3121373
19. Xia, S., Sha, H.B., Yang, L., Ji, Y., Ostrand-Rosenberg, S. and Qi, L. 2011. Gr-1+ CD11b+
myeloid-derived suppressor cells suppress inflammation and promote insulin sensitivity in obesity.
J. Biol. Chem. 286: 23591-9. PMCID: PMC3123122
20. Xue, Z., He, Y, Ye, K., Gu, Z., Mao, Y. and Qi, L. 2011. A Conserved Structural Determinant
Located at the Interdomain Region of Mammalian IRE1α. J. Biol. Chem. 286:30859-66. PMCID:
PMC3162446
21. Mao, T., Shao, M., Qiu, Y., Huang, J., Zhang, Y., Song, B., Wang, Q., Jiang, L., Liu, Y., Han, J.,
Cao, P., Li, J., Gao, X., Rui, L., Qi, L., Li, W. and Liu, Y. 2011. PKA Phosphorylation Couples
Hepatic IRE1α to Glucagon Signaling in Glucose Metabolism. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 108:
15852-7. PMCID: PMC3179066
2012
22. Ji, Y., Sun, S., Xu, A., Bhargava, P., Lam, K., Gao B., Lee, C., Kersten, S., and Qi, L. 2012.
Activation of Natural Killer T Cells Promotes M2 Macrophage Polarization in Adipose Tissue and
Improves Systemic Glucose Tolerance via the Interleukin-4 (IL-4)/STAT6 Protein Signaling Axis in
Obesity. J. Biol. Chem. 287: 13561-13571 PMCID: PMC3340139
23. Sun, S., Ji, Y., Xia, S. and Qi, L. 2012. The ATP-P2X7 Signaling Axis is Dispensable for
Obesity-Associated Inflammasome Activation in Adipose Tissue. Diabetes. 61: 1471-8. PMCID:
PMC3357307
24. Ji, Y., Sun, S., Xia, S., Yang, L., Li, X., and Qi, L. 2012. Short-Term High-fat-Diet Challenge
Promotes Alternative Macrophage Polarization in Adipose Tissue via Natural Killer T Cells and
Interleukine-4. J. Biol. Chem. 287: 24378-86. PMCID: PMC3397864
25. Yang, Z., Wang, X., He, Y., Qi, L., Yu, L., Xue, B., and Shi, H. 2012. The full capacity of AICAR to
reduce obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance requires Myeloid Sirt1. PLoS One. 7
(11): e49935. PMCID: PMC3503857
26. He, Y., Beatty, A.*, Han, X.*, Ji, Y., Ma, X., Adelstein, R., Yates, J. R., Kemphues, K., and Qi, L.
2012. Novel Role of Non-Muscle Myosin IIB in IRE1α Signaling Upon ER Stress. Dev. Cell. 23:
1141-1152 PMCID: PMC3547290 Highlighted in Faculty 1000 (*, equal contribution)
2013
27. Stanya, K.J., Jacobi, D., Liu, S., Bhargava, P., Gangl, M.R., Inouye, K, Barlow, J.L., Ji, Y., Mizgerd,
J.P., Qi, L., Shi, H., McKenzie, A.N.J., Lee, C.H. 2013. Direct control of hepatic glucose production
by Interleukin-13 in mice. J Clin Invest. 123: 261-71 PMCID: PMC3533296
28. Duplan, E., Giaime, E., Viotti, J., Sevalle, J., Corti, O., Brice, A., Ariga, H., Qi, L., Checler, F., and
da Costa, C.A. 2013. ER-stress-associated functional link between parkin and DJ-1 via a
transcriptional cascade involving the tumor suppressor p53 and the spliced X-box binding protein
XBP-1. J Cell Sci. 126: 2124-33 PMID: 23447676
29. Yang, L., Sha., H., Davisson, R., and Qi, L. 2013. Phenformin activates unfolded protein response
in an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent manner. J Biol Chem. 288: 13631-8
4
PMCID: PMC3650398
30. Iwata, T.N., Cowley, T.J., Sloma, M., Ji, Y., Kim, H., Qi, L., and Lee, S.S. 2013. The Transcriptional
Co-Regulator HCF-1 Is Required for INS-1 beta-cell Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion. PLoS
ONE 8:e78841. PMID: 24250814
2014
31. Sha, H., Yang, L., Liu, M., Liu, F., Kersten, S. and Qi, L. 2014. Adipocyte XBP1s promotes
adiponectin multimerization and systemic glucose homeostasis. Diabetes. 63: 867-79 PMID:
24241534 PMCID: PMC3931404 Commented in Nature Reviews Endocrinology (2014) 10: 66
32. Sun, S.*, Shi, G.*, Han, X., Francisco, A.B., Ji, Y., Mendoca, N., Liu, X., Locasale, J., Duhamel, G.,
Kersten, S., Yates, J., Long, Q. and Qi, L. 2014. Sel1L is Indispensable for Mammalian ERAD, ER
Homeostasis and Survival. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 111: E582-591 PMID: 24453213
PMCID: PMC3918815 Highlighted in Faculty 1000 (*, equal contribution)
33. Xia, S, Li, X., Cheng, L., Han, M., Zhang, M., Liu, X., Xu, H., Zhang, M., Shao, Q., and Qi, L. 2014.
Chronic Intake of High Fish Oil Diet Induces Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells to Promote Tumor
Growth. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 63: 663-73 PMID: 24691944 PMCID: PMC4246012
34. An, D., Lessard, S.J., Toyoda, T., Lee, M.Y., Koh, H.J., Qi, L., Hirshman, M.F. and Goodyear, L.J.
2014. Overexpression of TRB3 in muscle alters muscle fiber type and improves exercise capacity
in mice. American Journal of Physiology Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative
Physiology. 306: R925-33. PMID: 24740654 PMCID: PMC4159733
35. Mattijssen, F., Georgiadi, A., Andasarie, T., Szalowska, E., Zota, A., Krones-Herzig, A., Heier, C.,
Ratman, D., De Bosscher, K., Qi, L., Zechner, R., Herzig, S., and Kersten, S. 2014. Hypoxia
inducible lipid droplet associated (HILPDA) is a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
(PPAR) target involved in hepatic triglyceride secretion. J Biol Chem. 289: 19279-293 PMID:
24876382 PMCID: PMC4094041
36. Ji, Y.*, Sun, S.*, Goodrich, J.K., Poole, A.C., Kim, H., Ley, R.E., Duhamel, G. and Qi, L. 2014.
Diet-induced alterations in gut microflora contribute to lethal pulmonary damage in TLR2/TLR4
deficient mice. Cell Reports. 8: 137-49 PMCID: PMC4103790 (*, equal contribution)
37. Sha, H., Sun, S., Francisco, A., Ehrhardt, N., Xue, Z., Liu, L., Lawrence, P., Mattijssen, F., Guber,
R.D., Panhwar, M.S., Brenna, T.J., Shi, H., Xue, B., Kersten, S., Bendadoun, A., Peterfy, M., Long,
Q. and Qi, L. 2014. The ER-associated degradation adaptor protein Sel1L regulates LPL secretion
and lipid metabolism. Cell Metabolism. 20: 458-470 PMCID: PMC4156539
2015
38. An, D., Ji, Y., Chiu, A., Lu, Y.C., Song, W., Zhai, L., Qi, L., Luo, D., Ma, M. 2015. Developing robust,
hydrogel-based, nonfiber-enabled encapsulation devices (NEEDs) for cell therapies.
Biomaterials. 37: 40-8. PMID: 25453936
39. Liu, X., Sadhukhan, S., Sun, S., Wagner, G.R., Hirschey, M.D., Qi, L., Lin, H., Locasale, J.W. 2015.
High resolution metabolomics with acyl-CoA profiling reveals widespread remodeling in response
to diet. Mol Cell Proteomics. 14: 1489-500 PMID: 25795660
40. Xia, S., Li, X., Cheng, L., Han, M., Zhang, M., Shao, Q., Xu, H., and Qi, L. 2015. Fish oil rich diet
promotes hematopoiesis and alters hematopoietic niche. Endocrinology. 156: 2821-30 PMID:
26061726
41. Ma, H., Dang, Y., Wu, Y., Zhang, J., Abraham, S., Choi, J.G., Shi, G., Qi, L., Shankar, P.,
Manjunath, N., and Wu, H. 2015. A CRISPR-Cas9-based screen for human genes essential for
West Nile virus-induced cell death. Cell Reports. 12: 673-83 PMID: 26190106
42. Sun, S.*, Shi, G.*, Sha, H., Ji, Y., Han, X., Shu, X., Ma, H., Inoue, T., Gao, B., Kim, H., Bu, P.,
5
Guber, R., Shen, X., Lee, A.H., Iwawaki, T., Paton, A.W., Paton, J.C., Fang, D., Tsai, B., Yates,
J.R., 3rd, Wu, H., Kersten, S., Long, Q., Duhamel, G.E., Simpson, K.W., and Qi, L. 2015. IRE1α is
an endogenous substrate of endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation. Nat Cell Biol. 12 (12):
1546-1555 PMID: 26551274 (*, equal contribution) Highlighted in Faculty 1000
2016
43. Sun, S., Louri, R., Cohen, S.B., Ji, Y., Goodrich, J.K., Poole, A.C., Ley, R.E., Denkers, E.Y.,
Mcguckin, M.A., Long, Q., Duhamel, G.E., Simpson, K.W., and Qi, L. 2016. Epithelial Sel1L is
required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. Mol Biol Cell. 27 (3): 483-90 PMID:
26631554
44. Ji, Y., Kim, H., Yang, L., Sha, H., Roman, C.A., Long, Q., and Qi, L. 2016. Endoplasmic
reticulum-associated degradation manages a key checkpoint in B cell development by targeting the
pre-BCR complex for degradation. Under review.
REVIEWS AND BOOK CHAPTERS (8 total)
1. Ostrand-Rosenberg, S., Clements, V., Dissanayake, S., Pulaski, B., and Qi, L. 2002.
Immunological targets for the gene therapy of cancer. In Gene therapy of cancer, II. E. Latteime,
and S. Gerson, eds. Academic Press, San Diego. Part II, 128-138.
2. Ostrand-Rosenberg, S., Pulaski, B., Clements, V., Qi, L., Pipeling, M., Hanyok, L. 1999.
Cell-based vaccines for the stimulation of immunity to metastatic cancers. Immunological
Reviews 170: 101-14
3. He, Y., Sun, S., Sha, H., Liu, Z., Yang, L., Xue, Z., Chen, H. and Qi, L. (2010) Emerging roles of
XBP1, a sUPeR transcription factor. Gene Expression. 15: 13-25. PMCID: PMC3374844
4. Qi, L., Yang, L. and Chen, H. 2011. Detecting and quantitating physiological ER stress in
mammals. Methods in Enzymology. 490: 137- 46. PMCID: PMC3374842
5. Sha, H., He, Y., Yang, L. and Qi, L. 2011. Stressed out about obesity: IRE1α-XBP1 pathway in
metabolism. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 22: 374-381. PMCID: PMC3163776
6. Sun, S., Ji, Y., Kerstern, S. and Qi, L. 2012. Mechanisms of Inflammatory Responses in Obese
Adipose Tissue. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 32: 261-86. PMCID: PMC4041712 Highlighted in Faculty 1000
7. Qi, L. 2014. Tipping the balance in metabolic regulation: regulating regulatory T cells by
co-stimulation. Diabetes. 63: 1179-81 PMID: 24651799 PMCID: PMC3964503
8. Kim, H., Bhattacharya, A., and Qi, L. 2015. Endoplasmic reticulum quality control in cancer: friend
or foe. Seminars in Cancer Biology. 33: 25-33 PMID: 25794824
RESEARCH SUPPORT
ACTIVE
1R01GM113188-01
Qi (PI)
1/1/15-11/30/18
NIH/NIGMS
$192,500 (DC) and $105,875 (IDC)
Regulation of IRE1 signaling by the Sel1L-Hrd1 ERAD complex
The major goals of this project are to investigation biochemically the molecular mechanism underlying
ERAD-mediated IRE1 degradation.
20% effort
6
1R01DK105393-01
Qi (PI)
4/11/15-1/31/19
NIH/NIDDK
$225,000 (DC) and $123,750 (IDC)
The Role of Sel1L and ER Quality Control in Adipocytes
The major goals of this project are to investigate the role of Sel1L and ERAD in white adipocytes in
obesity.
20% effort
1-12-CD-04
Qi (PI)
1/1/12-12/30/16
American Diabetes Association
$150,000 (DC) and $22,500 (IDC)
Career Development Award
Regulation of Systemic Insulin Sensitivity by Adipocyte XBP1s
The goal of this study is to define the role of XBP1s in regulating HMW adiponectin folding in
adipocytes.
10% effort
1-SRA-2014-251-Q-R
Qi (PI)
8/1/14-7/31/16 (at no cost extension)
JDRF (Strategic Research Agreement)
$182,000 (DC) and $18,000 (IDC)
Cell-Autonomous Effect of TLR2/TLR4 on β Cell Proliferation in Type-1 Diabetes
The goal of this study is to elucidate the cell autonomous effect of TLR2/4 on beta cell proliferation.
Co-PI: Danwei Huangfu (MSKCC) and Minglin Ma (Cornell)
5% effort
NIH 5R01 HL63887-10A1
Davisson (PI)
7/15/11-4/30/16
NIH/NHLBI
Oxidative stress in the brain and hypertension
The major goal of this study is to elucidate the function of UPR in the development of hypertension.
Role: Collaborator
5% effort
No number provided
Ma (PI)
1/1/16-21/31/18
Novo Nordisk
$8,343 (DC) and $4,589 (IDC)
Preclinical development of the TRAFFIC system for T1D
The major goal of this study is to develop the TRAFFIC encapsulation system for the treatment of T1D.
Role: Collaborator
4% effort
PENDING
201302898
Qi (PI), Arvan (co-PI)
3/1/16-2/28/17
JDRF Innovative Award
$110,000 (total cost)
ER-Associated Degradation (ERAD)-Mediated Maintenance of Proinsulin Quality Control in Pancreatic
β cells
The major goals of this project are to investigate the role of ERAD in the degradation of proinsulin in β
cells.
HHMI Scholar
Qi (PI)
7/1/16-6/30/21
HHMI/Gates/Simons Scholar
Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation in health and disease
7
The major goals of this project are to investigate the role of ERAD in various disease contexts.
1R01DK111174-01
Arvan (PI), Qi/Tsai/Liu (co-PI)
7/1/16-6/30/21
NIDDK
$125,000 (DC) and $68,750 (IDC); $968,750 total cost/5 years
High Quality Proinsulin Folding Requires ERAD of Proinsulin
The major goals of this project are to investigate the role of ERAD in β cells, proinsulin maturation and
the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.
Status: to be reviewed 3/15
1R01AR070657-01
Fang (PI), Qi (co-PI)
7/1/16-6/30/21
NIAID
$104,497 (DC) and $57,473 (IDC); $832,239 total cost/5 years
ERAD in B cell immunity
The major goals of this project are to investigate the role of ERAD in B cell development and activation
in the pathogenesis of autoimmune lupus disease.
Status: to be reviewed 2/4/15
1R01DK106556-01A1
Qi (PI), Simpson/Sartor (co-PI)
7/1/16-6/30/21
NIDDK
$150,000 (DC) and $82,500 (IDC); $1,243,162 total cost/5 years
The role of ER-associated degradation (ERAD) in intestinal homeostasis
The major goals of this project are to investigate the crosstalk between ERAD and autophagy in hostmicrobial homeostasis and the pathogenesis of Crohn’s Disease.
Status: to be reviewed 2/18/15 (A0_34%)
1R01OD022955-01
Qi (PI)
8/1/16-7/30/21
NIH Transformative R01
$397,476 (DC) and $218,611 (IDC)
Unlocking the Secrets of Pancreatic β Cell Proliferation
The major goals of this project are to test the translation potential of targeting TLR2/TLR4 signaling
pathways in β cells.
Status: to be reviewed 3/30/15
COMPLETED
NIH R21AA020351
Qi (PI)
2/10/12-1/31/15
NIH/NIAAA
Dissecting the Role of Unfolded Protein Response in Alcoholic Liver Disease
The goal of this study is to define the role of IRE1-XBP1 branch of the UPR in the development of
alcoholic liver disease.
Seed funding
Qi (PI)
1/1/14-12/31/14
Center for Vertebrate Genomics, Cornell University
$15,000 (DC)
HFD and TLR2/4 deficiency synergistically induce pulmonary damage and mortality via gut dysbiosis
The major goal of this project is to study the role of TLR and diet in the regulation of gut microbiome.
R01 DK082582-05
Qi (PI)
1/10/09-11/30/14
NIH/NIDDK
Adipokine Signaling in Macrophages
The goal of this study is to define the adipokine-mediated signaling pathways in macrophages using
8
several mouse models.
UL1TR000457
Qi (PI)
12/1/13-5/31/14
Novel Award, Clinical and Translational Science Center, Weill Cornell Medical College
The Effect of Nicotimamide Riboside on Adipose Inflammation in a Diet-Induced Obese Mouse Model
The goal of this study is to study nicotimamide riboside in the regulation of adipose inflammation in
obesity.
47-2012-767
Qi (PI)
9/1/12-8/31/14
JDRF (Pioneering Studies on Beta Cell Regeneration, Survival and Beta Cell Stress Biomarkers)
Gut Microbiota Regulate Beta Cell Proliferation via Toll-Like Receptors
The goal of this study is to elucidate the role of gut microbiota and TLR2/4 in beta cell proliferation.
RAG08061
Qi (PI)
7/1/2008-6/30/2010
American Federation of Aging Research
“Manipulation of Unfolded Protein Response in Neurodegeneration”
The major goal of this project is to study the role of acetylation in mediating unfolded protein response.
7-08-JF-47
Qi (PI)
7/1/2008-6/30/2011
American Diabetes Association
“Genetic Control of Crosstalk between Adipocytes and Macrophages”
This study is to elucidate the role of cofactors of CREB in macrophages.
Seed funding
Qi (PI)
1/1/11-12/31/11
Center for Vertebrate Genomics, Cornell University
The role of UPR in adipose tissue
The major goal of this project is to study the role of UPR in adipose biology.
Lehman Fund
Qi (PI)
7/1/12-6/30/13
Office of the Vice Provost for International Relations, Cornell University
The goal of this study is to foster bilateral visits and new collaborations between Cornell University and
Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai, China.
STUDENT FELLOWSHIP
Pre-doctoral Fellowship 12PRE9400033
Liu Yang (PI)
1/1/12-12/31/13
American Heart Association (AHA)
Role of XBP1 in cardiac circadian rhythm
The goal of this study is to the role of XBP1s in heart circadian regulation.
Role: Mentor
International Student Research Fellowship 59107338
Shengyi Sun (PI)
9/1/11-8/31/14
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
Extracellular ATP regulates lipolysis in adipocytes through P2X7
The goal of this study is to elucidate the role of ATP signaling in adipocyte biology.
Role: Mentor
Scholar award
Haibo Sha (PI)
12/1/09-11/30/10
9
Center for Vertebrate Genomics at Cornell University
“Identifying the roles of ATF6 in adipogenesis using the systems biology approaches”
The major goal of this project is to study the role of ATF6 in adipogenesis using high-throughput
approaches.
Role: Mentor
Participation in training grants
T32 GM07273 (PI: Bretscher)
National Institutes of Health
“Predoctoral training in Cellular and Molecular Biology”
Role: Mentor
T32 GM07617 (PI: Barbash)
National Institutes of Health
“Predoctoral Training in Genetics and Development”
Role: Mentor
T32 DK007158 (PI: Stover)
National Institutes of Health
“Nutrition training”
Role: Mentor
Teaching Support
A new way of learning nutrition
Qi (PI)
2013
Cornell Center for Teaching Excellence
The goal of this study is to bring experts into the classroom and bring students and instructors to the
lunch table.
Total award: $1,500
PATENTS
1. Marc Montminy, Jose Heredia and Ling Qi. Methods for identifying candidate fat mobilizing agents.
U.S. Patent #: EP203551 (WO2007146654)
2. Ling Qi and Yewei Ji. Improving systemic glucose tolerance in type-2 diabetes. U.S. Application
number: PCT/US2012/052967 (WO2013033283 A1).
3. Ling Qi, Shengyi Sun and Yewei Ji. Methods and Compositions to Treat Type-1 and Type-2
Diabetes. US Provisional Patent Application No.: 61/977,809. Filing date: 4/10/2015.
INVITED SEMINAR AND MEETING PRESENTATIONS
2006
2006
2006
2006
Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY (11/8)
Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, BC, Canada (11/14)
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (12/7)
Department of Biology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
10
2006
2007
2007
2007
2007
2008
2008
2009
2010
2010
2010
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2012
2012
2012
2013
(12/12)
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,
TX (12/28)
Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA (1/11)
Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
(1/22)
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (1/25)
Invited lecture “Gene regulation and the unfolded protein response in adipocytes”.
Nebraska Research and Innovation Conference, Omaha, NE (3/21)
Department of Biomedical Science, Vet School, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (3/11)
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (4/4)
Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (10/20)
Plenary session at the Keystone Symposium on “Molecular and Cellular Biology of Immune
Escape in Cancer”, Keystone, CO (2/10)
Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China (3/30)
Laboratory of Liver Diseases, NIAAA, NIH, Bethesda, MD (11/9)
The 4th scientific meeting of the Chinese-American Diabetes Association, San Diego, CA
(6/24)
The Thirteenth International Symposium, Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America,
Guangzhou, China (7/28)
The Chinese Biological Investigators Society meeting, Zhang Jiajie, China (8/2)
The NuGOweek 2011 Symposium, Wageningen, The Netherlands (9/8) “Metabolic
flexibility: lipids, ER stress, inflammation and adipocyte biology”
Departments of Immunology, Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases, UMC Utretch, The
Netherlands (9/12) “Metabolic flexibility: lipids, ER stress, inflammation and adipocyte
biology”
Departments of Immunology, UMC Groningin, The Netherlands (9/12) “Metabolic flexibility:
lipids, ER stress, inflammation and adipocyte biology”
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (10/7)
“Metabolic flexibility: lipids, ER stress, inflammation and adipocyte biology”
Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard University School of Public
Health, Boston, MA (10/12) “ER stress and inflammation in obesity and diabetes”
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University (10/17) “ER stress and
inflammation in obesity and diabetes”
Diabetes Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY (3/30) “ER stress and
inflammation in obesity and diabetes”
Metabolism Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY (5/15) “ER stress and
inflammation in obesity and diabetes”
American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
“Immunometabolism” session (6/12): “Lipid-Sensing NKT Cells in Adipose Tissue
Promote M2 Macrophage Polarization and Glucose Homeostasis via IL-4/STAT6 in
Obesity”
Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (3/4). “ER stress
and inflammation in obesity and diabetes”
11
2013
2013
2013
2013
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
Regional Diabetes Conference, Diabetes Research Center, Albert Einstein College of
Medicine, NY (5/17) “The Physiological Role of ER-Associated Degradation (ERAD) and
ER Stress Response”
Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
(6/4). “The Physiological Role of ER-Associated Degradation (ERAD) and ER Stress
Response”
FASEB meeting on “From unfolded proteins in the ER to disease”, Saxton River, Vermont
(6/19). “The Physiological Role of ER-Associated Degradation (ERAD) and ER Stress
Response”
Department of Pathology, Weill Cornell Medical College, NYC “The Role of ER
Homeostasis and Inflammation in Health and Disease” (11/22)
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Twin City, MN “The
Role of ER Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (9/10)
Department of Molecular Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago “The Role of ER
Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (9/8)
Division of Gastroenterology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston “The
Role of ER Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (10/1)
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, MD “The Role of ER Homeostasis
in Health and Disease” (10/15)
Department of Pharmacology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY “The Role
of ER Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (10/23)
Department of Clinical Science, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca,
NY “The Role of ER Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (10/24)
Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland College Park, MD “The
Role of ER Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (11/5)
University of Soochow Medical School, Suzhou, China “The Role of ER Homeostasis in
Health and Disease” (11/12)
Department of Immunology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China “The Role of ER
Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (11/18)
National Clinical Center for Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China “The Role
of ER Homeostasis and inflammation in Health and Disease” (11/20)
Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China “The Role
of ER Homeostasis and inflammation in Health and Disease” (11/21)
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El
Paso, TX 79905 “The Role of ER Homeostasis and inflammation in Health and Disease”
(2/13)
Department of Biochemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA “The Role of ER Homeostasis
and inflammation in Health and Disease” (5/12)
ER hub/Protein Folding Disease Initiative, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
“ER-associated degradation in health and disease: what can we learn from mouse
models?” (5/13)
Invited speaker, Symposium “Metabolic adaptation and flexibility”, 75th ADA Scientific
meeting, Boston, MA “ER Homeostasis and metabolic homeostasis” (6/5)
Invited speaker, FASEB conference on “From Unfolded Proteins in the ER to Disease
2015”, Saxtons River, VT “ER-associated degradation in health and disease: what can
we learn from mouse models?” (6/18)
12
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2016
2016
2016
Invited speaker, VERG retreat, Cornell University “ER-associated degradation in health and
disease: what can we learn from mouse models?” (7/10)
Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI “The Role of
ER Homeostasis and inflammation in Health and Disease” (7/21)
Invited speaker, Singapore Symposium on Metabolic Diseases, Singapore “ER-associated
degradation in health and disease: what can we learn from mouse models?” (8/20-21)
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
“ER-associated degradation in health and disease: what can we learn from mouse
models?” (9/18)
Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK “The Role of ER
Homeostasis and inflammation in Health and Disease” (10/26)
Touchstone Diabetes Centers, US Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX “The Role of
ER Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (3/28)
Department of Nutrition and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA
“ER-associated degradation in health and disease: what can we learn from mouse
models?” (3/30)
Department of Physiology, University of Minnesota, Twin City, MN “The Role of ER
Homeostasis in Health and Disease” (5/5)
PARTICIPATED GRADUATE FIELDS
Nutritional Sciences (NS)
Genomics, Genetics and Development (GG&D)
Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology (BMCB)
Molecular Integrative Physiology (MIP)
Immunology and Infectious Diseases (IID)
POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATES
Present 1.
Yewei Ji, Ph.D. (2009, Chongqing Medical University), 11/2009 – present, Research Associate
2.
Guojun Shi, Ph.D. (2010, Chinese Academy of Sciences), 10/2012 – present, Postdoctoral Fellow
3.
Geun Hyang Kim, Ph.D. (2011, Korea University), 3/2015 - present, Postdoctoral Fellow
4.
Neha Shrestha, Ph.D. (2015, A*STAR), 6/2016 - present,, Postdoctoral Fellow
Past 5.
Haibo Sha, Ph.D. (2007, Nanjin University), 10/2007 – 2016, currently Investigator at Novartis at
Cambridge, MA
6.
Iris Sun, Ph.D. (2015, Cornell University) 05/2009 – 9/2015, currently Postdoctoral Fellow at
UTSW, Dallas, TX
7.
Hui Chen, Ph.D., (2004, University of Maryland) 8/2007 – 5/2012, currently at Technology
Commercialization Specialist at Cornell
8.
Sheng Xia, Ph.D. (2008, Zhejiang University), 2/2009 – 5/2011, currently Associate Professor at
13
Jiangsu University
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Present 1.
Hana Kim, PhD candidate in Immunology, 2012-present
2.
Asmita Bhattacharya, PhD candidate in Genomics, Genes and Development, 2014-present
3.
Shu Xin, PhD candidate in Nutrition, Molecular Nutrition, 2015-present
Past 4.
Yin He, PhD in Genes and Development, 2008-2013 “Investigating mammalian unfolded protein
response: the physiology and regulatory mechanisms of IRE1-XBP1 signaling”, currently Scientist
at Transcriptic Inc.
5.
Liu Yang, PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2009-2013 “The physiology of
mammalian ER quality control: unfolded protein response and ER-associated degradation”,
Currently Postdoctoral Fellow
6.
Zhen Xue, PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2010-2014 “The physiological
function and regulatory mechanisms of the unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum
associated degradation”, Associate at McKinsey and Co.
7.
Iris Sun, PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2010-2015 “The role of
inflammation and ER homeostasis in health and disease”, Currently Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell
University
8.
Nuno Mendonca, Research Intern MS student from Wageningen University, 2011-2013, Currently
Graduate Student at Newcastle University.
Past and present students where I served as minor members 9.
Terri Iwata, PhD in Biomedical Sciences, 2012, currently postdoctoral fellow at Washington
University
10. Mahmoud Hussein Hassan, PhD in Animal Sciences 2011
11. Jose Manuel Ramos-Nieves, PhD in Animal Sciences 2013
12. Katie Schoenberg, PhD in Animal Sciences 2010
13. Xi Yan, PhD in Animal Sciences 2014
14. Kristen Davis, PhD in Animal Sciences 2015
15. Diana Athonvarangkul (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) – external examiner, Ph.D. 2014
16. A’nna Sewall (Division of Nutritional Science), 2014-2016
17. Elizabeth S. Moore, DVM (Biomedical Sciences), 2014-2016
18. Emily Riddle (Division of Nutritional Science), 2014-2016
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRAINEES (AND THEIR FUNDING SUPPORT)
Present Yiyi Zhang (Biological Sciences, CALS, class of 2016)
Robert Guber (Human Ecology, class of 2015)
Kitzmiller Memorial Fund for Undergraduate Research 2012
14
The Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar, Class of 2015
Diane Somlo (Arts and Sciences, class of 2015)
Laurel Darragh (HBHS, Human Ecology, class of 2017)
Past Anna Zenno (Graduated 2010 with honors thesis; currently in Stony Brook Medical School, NY)
Kitzmiller Memorial Fund for Undergraduate Research 2008
Hughes scholar 2008
Angela Lee (Arts and Sciences, class of 2011; currently Research Assistant at Hospital for Special
Surgery, NY)
Michael Singer (Human Ecology, class of 2012)
Stem Cell Fellowship 2011
Michael Young (Human Ecology, class of 2012; currently Clinical Research Coordinator at Manhattan
Medical Research & University Urology, NY)
Steven Ham (Human Ecology, class of 2013)
Kitzmiller Memorial Fund for Undergraduate Research 2010
Xiao-Qing Li (Human Ecology, class of 2013)
Kitzmiller Memorial Fund for Undergraduate Research 2011
The Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar, Class of 2013
Diana Mak (Arts and Sciences, class of 2013; currently at Graduate school at Cornell)
Stem Cell Fellowship 2012
Mahindra Mohan (Arts and Sciences, class of 2013)
Biology Research Fellowships and Internships (BioRes) program 2012
Muhammad Panhwar (Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar; currently in Medical College in Qatar)
Research program 2012
Erica Shu (Human Ecology, class of 2014; currently at Graduate school at Cornell)
Kitzmiller Memorial Fund for Undergraduate Research 2013
Merry Huang (Human Ecology, class of 2015; currently at University of Minnesota Medical School)
Kitzmiller Memorial Fund for Undergraduate Research 2014
ACADEMIC COMMITTEES
College Committees
Advisory council, College of Human Ecology, 2014-2016, Cornell University
Department Committees
Advisory committee for graduate field of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Member, 2012-1015
Graduate Admissions Committee, Division of Nutritional Sciences, 2009-2011
Graduate Admissions Committee, Genetics and Development Graduate Field, 2010-2012
Small Grant Committee, Member, Division of Nutritional Sciences, 2013- 2014
Curriculum Committee, Member, Division of Nutritional Sciences, 2014- 2015
Award Committee, Member, Division of Nutritional Sciences, 2015- 2017
15
UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING
I teach a popular upper-level undergraduate course NS3310 “Nutrient Metabolism” every spring
semester, which covers the digestion, absorption and metabolism of essential nutrients (CHO, lipids,
protein, minerals, vitamin and water). I also guest-lectured in other graduate courses including
“Advanced Immunology”, “Protein Metabolism”.
UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING
I have advised over 40 undergraduate advisees in the last 7 years. I have regularly met with them
through informal and formal advising. In addition, I have advised over 20 undergraduates on a regular
basis who were or are not my advisees. Some of those had career issues or were under serious stress
and etc. In the spring semester, I hold regular weekly lunches with those students taking my course.
During these lunches, not only we discuss class-related issues, but also in many cases non-class
related issues such as career, health and etc.
INVITATION TO UNDERGRADUATE EVENTS
Guest speaker, Cornell Undergraduate Research Board (CURB) Student Dinner, Cornell University,
Fall 2013
Guest speaker, Cornell Pre-Professional Association Towards Careers in Health (PATCH) Student
meeting, Cornell University, Fall 2014
Guest speaker, Kappa Kappa Gamma Student Dinner, Cornell University, Spring 2014
Judge, Asian Night, Cornell University, Spring 2015
PRESS RELEASES
11/12/15 Cornell Chronicle
Mechanism underlying cell stress response discovered
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2015/11/mechanism-underlying-cell-stress-response-discovered)
8/4/14 Cornell Chronicle
A new player in lipid metabolism discovered
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2014/08/new-player-lipid-metabolism-discovered)
6/18/14 Cornell Chronicle Chronic intake of Western diet kills mice
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2014/06/chronic-intake-western-diet-kills-mice)
5/28/14 Cornell Chronicle 20 Cornellians win SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2014/05/20-cornellians-win-suny-chancellors-awards-excellence)
1/22/14 Cornell Chronicle Gene prevents buildup of misfolded cell proteins
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2014/01/gene-prevents-buildup-misfolded-cell-proteins)
8/21/13
ABC News
There’s no perfect diet, researcher says
16
(http://abcnews.go.com/Health/stop-diet-madness-researcher/story?id=20023902)
12/20/12 Cornell Chronicle Researchers link protein known for cell mobility with protein folding
during stress (http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec12/ERStress.html)
5/7/12
Cornell Chronicle Immune cells found to counter obesity-related diabetes
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/May12/QiTCells.html)
3/14/12
Cornell Daily Sun The Scientist: Prof. Ling Qi Examines Fat Cell Responses to Obesity
and Diabetes (http://cornellsun.com/node/50559)
1/31/12
Cornell Chronicle Qi wins prestigious American Diabetes Association award
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Jan12/QiDiabetesAward.html)
8/17/11
Cornell Chronicle Grad student wins Hughes fellowship for doctoral research
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Aug11/ShengyiSunAward.html)
6/2/09
Cornell Chronicle
Cornell researchers discover key regulator of fat cell development
(http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2009/06/researchers-discover-pathway-implications-obesity)
6/5/08
Cornell Chronicle
Cornell researcher strives to break the link between obesity and
diabetes (http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/June08/obesity.diabetes.mw.html)
For more information, please visit our lab website:
http://www.human.cornell.edu/dns/qilab/index.cfm
17
RESEARCH STATEMENT
Our laboratory explores the physiological role of (a) endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and (b)
inflammatory responses in the context of metabolic disorders including obesity, type-1/-2 diabetes and
inflammatory bowel disease. Our goal is to uncover new findings, break new grounds, delineate the
etiology and pathogenesis of human diseases, and eventually help develop therapeutic strategies. In
the past 7 years, using cellular, immunological and molecular biology approaches, we have made some
important discoveries and produced new insights into the pathogenesis of these diseases. I have
created an environment that is fair, respectful, courtesy, collegial and conducive to learning and testing
new ideas in the laboratory.
Our studies have provided important insights into the pathogenesis of various diseases, especially
metabolic syndromes such as obesity, type-1 and -2 diabetes, neonatal diabetes or mutant
insulin-gene-induced diabetes of youth (MIDY), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Certain
important themes have emerged from our studies. To keep this summary brief, I have highlighted two
central themes.
1. Physiological role of ER homeostasis in health and diseases.
A defining feature of any physiological process is the recurring nature and balance of the signaling
circuits and in the case of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is the dynamic control of protein folding and
degradation. Using animal models, we have investigated how the cell maintains ER homeostasis.
First, we have pioneered novel methods to quantitate the level of stress in the ER by quantitating the
percent of IRE1 phosphorylation, the key ER stress sensor (Cell Metabolism 2009). This discovery
has solved a long-standing challenge in the field of ER biology and has transformed the field into a
quantifiable science. This method also allows us and others to quantitatively measure the level of ER
stress under various physiological and pathological conditions (Developmental Cell 2012, Diabetes
2014) and reveal important insights into the role of ER homeostasis in health and disease. Second, we
have revealed, for the first time, the physiological and pathological significance of ER-associated
degradation (ERAD) in cell type-specific manner in diverse physiological contexts (PNAS 2014; Cell
Metabolism 2014; Nat Cell Biol 2015; Mol Biol Cell 2015). We were the first to demonstrate Sel1L as an
indispensable component of Hrd1 ERAD complex in mammals in vivo, discover novel links between
Sel1L-Hrd1 ERAD and a number of disease-associated proteins and pathways including IRE1 and
lipoprotein lipase. These studies have delineated physiological and pathological importance of ERAD,
identified several endogenous misfolding-prone ERAD substrates and established a common theme of
ERAD dysfunction in the pathogenesis of various seemingly distinct diseases. Our achievements build
on our desire to think outside the box, take the risk and develop breakthrough science.
We are at the forefront of physiological ER stress and ERAD field to delineate the role of ERAD in vivo,
with a special focus on the most conserved Sel1L-Hrd1 protein complex in health and disease.
Specifically, we will delineate cell type-specific ERAD in various cell types in vivo, and reveal
pathophysiological significance of the ERAD system in the pathogenesis of various diseases including
immunodeficiency, diabetes, obesity and neurodegeneration. We are uniquely positioned because of
many Sel1L-Hrd1 ERAD deficient cell and mouse models that we have recently generated, because of
our innovative spirits, passion and dedication to scientific discovery and because of our diverse
research expertise in many different areas. By systemically identifying cell type-specific ERAD
substrates in distinct physiological contexts, we may transform the field from a rough description to a
18
series of molecular details of (patho-)physiological importance of ERAD in diverse physiological
contexts. Our work will reveal the elaborate orchestrations of ER protein folding and ERAD that lie at
the heart of normal cellular function and physiology.
We will tackle many intriguing questions in the field, in particularly, (a) how different cell types including
hepatocytes, adipocytes (both white and brown), intestinal epithelia, pancreatic β cells, B cells, neurons
and etc deal with protein misfolding and manage ER homeostasis under various disease settings in
vivo, (b) how ERAD is linked to other signaling pathways and nutrient metabolism in vivo, and (c)
biochemically how ER homeostasis is regulated in the cell as well as the nature of endogenous ERAD
substrates. These studies will likely have significant impact as they will fundamentally change our views
on the role of ER homeostasis, ERAD and protein folding and degradation in physiology and diseases.
Studies in this area have been funded by two NIDDK R01s, one NIGMS R01, NIAAA R21, ADA Career
Developmental Award. We have three pending R01s in this area. Studies have been published in Nat
Cell Biol, Cell Metabolism, Developmental Cell, Diabetes, PNAS, Mol Biol Cell and J Biol Chem.
2. Physiological role of inflammation in health and diseases.
A long-standing puzzle of the “immunometabolism” field is how the low-grade inflammation is initiated
and maintained in obesity. Our goal is to identify immune populations that are important to counter the
proinflammatory effect of HFD and obesity. We demonstrated that myeloid-derived suppressor cells
(MDSCs) are involved in immunoregulation in WAT by acting as immunosuppressors (J Biol Chem
2011). We recently discovered a critical role of NKT cells in adipose inflammation and type-2 diabetes.
To dissect primary events associated with obesity, we investigated events at 4 day HFD where we
found that NKT cells are activated and regulate macrophage polarization and glucose tolerance via
IL-4. Among all the publications on adipose NKT, we were the first one to report that NKT cells act as a
lipid sensor to link HFD feeding and inflammatory responses in WAT (J Biol Chem 2012a; 2012b).
Recently, we showed a dispensable role of ATP-P2X7 signaling axis in inflammasome activation in
obese adipose tissue (Diabetes 2012). Lastly, while investigating the role of TLR signaling pathways in
inflammation, we serendipitously observed that TLR2/4 double knockout mice die from lethal pulmonary
damage following chronic HFD feeding, which is associated with changes in gut microbiota (Cell
Reports 2014).
For future studies, we will continue investigating how and when inflammation is initiated with a special
focus on β cells, and how inflammatory signals control β cell proliferation. We believe that our recent
study has unlock the secrets of β cell proliferation in adults.
Studies in this area have been funded by NIDDK R01, ADA Junior Faculty Award, JDRF Innovative
Award and Strategic Research Agreement and others. We have one pending transformative R01 and a
JDRF grant in this area. Studies have been published in Cell Metabolism, Diabetes, J Biol Chem, Cell
Reports, Endocrinology, and etc.
19
TEACHING STATEMENT
I am indebted to the teachers and mentors who inspired me throughout my career. When I teach and
train undergraduate students, my goal is to emulate my past teachers. Although undoubtedly teaching
takes away my time from research, I have enjoyed teaching and interaction with undergraduate
students as well as graduate students. At Cornell, I teach a human nutrition class NS3310 entitled
“Physiological and Biochemical Bases of Human Nutrition” (now called “Nutrient Metabolism”), open for
both undergraduate and graduate students with a total enrollment of 120 each year. In addition, I have
lectured in various graduate courses. I feel that not only my teaching has influenced and inspired a
younger generation, but also my research has benefited from teaching, in part, because it drives me to
be at the cutting-edge of many distinct topics in nutrition and metabolism.
To me, teaching is fun and exciting in the same way as research! Every student is like a
project – I want to see it through completion and success. Unlike a research project, the
success rate for this project is much higher.
Since fully taking over the course in 2011, I have spent many hours into planning, preparing, lecturing,
evaluating, meeting with students in various outside-of-class settings and etc. I have been very excited
to teach this course, to care for each student about their learning outcomes, and to inspire students to
be interested in the subject of nutrition and diseases. I even wrote an HHMI application; although not
funded, it made me think deep and hard in how to improve my teaching and how to effectively engage
the students in a big class room setting. Students’ feedback has been very positive and is improving
each year. It was wonderful to read students’ feedbacks, just quoting a few here: “This course is
awesome! I enjoyed a lot!”, “Dr. Qi should be recommended for every teaching award..., because this
class has changed my life for the better.”, “This course is fantastic!” and “A perfect ending for my time at
Cornell!”. They made everything worthwhile.
In May 2014, I received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, a top
award for the best teachers in the NY State.
My teaching goals statements are:
Motivating students to teach themselves is a key to the success. I believe that teachers have limited
ability to teach students anything as only 2-4 h are devoted to the subject every week. My role in
teaching is to engage them using various tools and methods in the classroom to stimulate their interest
in the subject, and to inspire them to teach themselves. Being enthusiastic about the subject and
making myself available to the students are two keys to achieve successful learning outcomes.
Therefore, my goal is to stimulate active learning, appreciation for the art of questioning, and comfort
with the idea that being wrong is a part of learning.
Getting to know the students. Teaching undergrads is similar, in a way, to teach your own child.
Spending more time with my students and getting to know them as individuals through office hours are
critical. These interactions help me connect with students and realize the challenges they are facing in
the class. In Spring 2012, I tried, for the first time, the lunch “date” with the instructor. It was a blast.
20
Many students came to the lunch with me and I learned so much from students, which really made me
connect with the students and understand why and how I can adjust to improve their learning. It was a
really helpful experience in teaching. I have now kept this tradition for my course over the last several
years.
Extensive use of evaluation permits the course to be adjusted and improved. Through extensive
interactions with students, I was able to obtain feedbacks on the course and permit a continuous check
on quality. In addition, one month into the lecture, we did class evaluations on BB, asking for the
comments. The results and comments from students were posted on the BB and adjustments were
made in the subsequent lectures. This made the students feel they can be involved in the teaching
planning. It was useful and helpful for some, but not for all. Some complained about the change in the
middle of the semester, which will need to be dealt with in the future.
Teaching is to all students. I have tried very hard to reach out to all the students in the class. After each
prelim, I sent out the emails to the top of class asking for tips which then posted on the blackboard, as
well as the bottom of the class asking for meetings with them. The goal of these meetings is to discuss
the challenges for each of them to learn the materials, and to see how I can help and adjust my teaching
style to improve the learning of those who have difficulties. Some of the
students were able to make big adjustments and thus significantly improve their learning outcomes.
Teaching validates my work in the laboratory… My goal of teaching is to build a class of
the future - to spark and inspire the young minds, to disseminate the knowledge, to shape
tomorrow’s science, and to open up a world of possibilities.
Teaching provides the opportunity to learn from the students. My students are not only more varied, but
also more recently trained than I am, and I learn from them through their questions, observations, and
challenges, just as they learn from me through my lectures and assignments. Many of them sent me
the links to interesting articles and websites, which I did not know before.
Past teaching evaluations: The evaluation was conducted by college with standard questions. Scale is 1-5
(1- least favorable; 5 - most favorable). ~70% students completely the semester-end survey. Enrollment: 90-130
Student evaluation
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Teaching skills
3.08
4.04
4.29
4.13
4.28
4.47
Knowledge of
subject matter
3.34
4.06
4.33
4.24
4.41
4.58
Classroom climate
3.03
4.15
4.43
4.25
4.35
4.47
Overall
2.52
3.58
3.86
4.10
4.12
4.28
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ADVISING STATEMENT
My goal of advising is to engage students at different stages and levels in their career and intellectual
development to prepare them for a diverse, challenging and changing world. Simply put, my goal is
to make difference in their lives. To achieve this goal, I, in my view, have two important duties: (i) to
facilitate students’ academic decision making and (ii) to facilitate students’ intellectual and personal
development.
To facilitate students’ academic decision making, I have been (a) helping them clarify their education
interests, needs, and goals, (b) exploring with them how specific majors, concentrations and courses
meet their educational interests, needs, and goals, (c) helping them locate information on academic
information and policies, (d) helping them monitor their progress toward meeting degree
requirements, (e) assisting them with course selection, registration and going abroad. In addition, to
facilitate students' intellectual and personal development, I have been (a) encouraging them to
develop independence and strong decision-making skills, (b) making them aware of additional
resources that are available to them, such as the counseling center, career development office, and
etc, and (c) engaging them with discussions about their career and goals. With that said, I make sure
that they understand that they are ultimately responsible for their decisions.
My duty and goal of advising is to engage freshmen and transfer students in their career and
intellectual development to prepare them for a diverse, challenging and changing world. In the past
three years, I have had over 25 student advisees, about half of which I have met regularly about once
or twice per semester. I made myself available to them any time during the day and week. I
responded to emails as soon as possible.
I have strived to facilitate students’ academic decision making and to facilitate students’ intellectual
and personal development. Specifically, I have helped many students clarify their education interests,
needs, and goals, explored with students how specific majors, concentrations and courses might
meet their educational interests, needs, and goals, helped students locate information on academic
information and policies, helped students monitor their progress toward meeting degree
requirements, and assisted students with course selection, registration and going abroad.
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In addition, I have strived to facilitate students' intellectual and personal development. Specifically, I
have encouraged them to develop independence and strong decision-making skills, made students
aware of additional resources that are available to them, such as the counseling center, career
development office, and engaged students in on-going discussions about their career and goals.
Finally, I also have advised students who were not my advisees. Many of students in my class NS3310
and those in my laboratory have come talk to me about their career and goals. I have been very
generous in offering my opinions on certain issues. But I also made sure that they understand that
they are ultimately responsible for their decisions. I also take the same advising philosophy for
students/fellows in my laboratory. I work hard together with them in improving their training as an
independent scientist, in terms of writing, speaking and critical thinking and experimenting. I
promote my students and fellows in any ways possible.
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