Chih-Hao Lee is a Professor of Genetics & Complex Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Dr. Lee’s research aims to understand physiological and pathological pathways in homeostatic and diseased conditions, using molecular, cellular and biochemical techniques and mouse disease models. He transitioned from the field of molecular biology to molecular physiology during his postdoctoral training through the work on a subfamily of nuclear hormone receptors, called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). These receptors are transcription factors shown to be activated by dietary fats and regulate expression of genes involved in multiple aspects of metabolism. As such, they provide an excellent tool to study homeostatic processes from metabolic inputs, transcriptional control to physiological responses. Building upon this system, his lab has identified several novel pathways in metabolic regulation beyond nuclear receptor biology. They have made important scientific contributions in areas of immuno-metabolism, metabolic cycle of hepatic metabolism and inter-organ communication in energy substrate utilization. Through understanding molecular mechanisms underlying the complex metabolic network, they hope to contribute to new therapeutic ideas for the development of safer, more effective drugs for treating metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases.
The title of his presentation is: “Immune signaling in endurance exercise-induced muscle metabolic reprogramming”.