Cheng-yang Wu

Biography

I am interested in drug discovery and development for diabetes and obesity. My research employs multi-discipline tools and NMR/MRI techniques to facilitate the development of new classes of drugs for diabetes. I also investigate the corresponding fundamental mechanisms of metabolism and regulation of signaling networks. One ongoing study focuses on a drug lead, PS10, targets pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDKs), which negatively regulate the activity of mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC). PDHC oxidizes pyruvate to acetyl CoA that feeds into TCA cycle for energy production and anaplerosis. The strategic role of PDHC controlling the glucose oxidation in cells makes it a great drug target. Applications of PDK inhibitor that can activate PDHC are various, including diabetes, cancer, heart failure. We are taking advantage of the advanced NMR/MRI coupled with hyperpolarized 13C tracers to study the metabolic networks altered by small molecules, as well as to develop methods for future clinical assessment of drug intervention.

Research Interest

Drug discovery and development Hyperpolarized 13C tracer NMR/MRI Type 2 diabetes and Obesity