Dongsheng Cai, MD, PhD

Dongsheng Cai, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Molecular Pharmacology
Chair of the Institutional Review Board 

Dr. Dongsheng Cai's research focuses on understanding the role of the central nervous system in the development and intervention of metabolic syndrome, aging and related diseases. full bio>> 

Key Publications

1. 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. Nat Immunol. 2015;16(5):525-33.
2. Yan J, Zhang H, Yin Y, Li J, Tang Y, Purkayastha S, Li L, Cai D. Obesity- and aging-induced excess of central transforming growth factor-beta potentiates diabetic development via an RNA stress response. Nat Med. 2014;20(9):1001-8.
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-beta, NF-kappaB and GnRH. Nature. 2013;497(7448):211-6.
4. Li J, Tang Y, Cai D. IKKbeta/NF-kappaB disrupts adult hypothalamic neural stem cells to mediate a neurodegenerative mechanism of dietary obesity and pre-diabetes. Nat Cell Biol. 2012;14(10):999-1012.
5. Purkayastha S, Zhang G, Cai D. Uncoupling the mechanisms of obesity and hypertension by targeting hypothalamic IKK-beta and NF-kappaB. Nat Med. 2011;17(7):883-7.

Funding

1. Glia-neuron interaction via IKK-Beta/NF-KappaB in obesity and related pre-T2D
   NIDDK/NIH, R01 DK 078750
   07/2007-06/2018
   Role: PI
2. Role of hypothalamic IKK -Beta/NF-KappaB in nutritional control of aging
   NIA/NIH (R01 AG 031774
   02/2008-01/2020
   Role: PI
3. Hypothalamic IKK-beta in obesity-related hypertension
   NHLBI/NIH, R01 HL113180
   06/2013-05/2017
   Role: PI
4. Hypothalamic HIF in nutrient sensing and metabolic control
   NIDDK/NIH R01 DK 099136
   04/2014-03/2019
   Role: PI