General Research Interest
understanding the physical, social environment and mental state influence physiological processes with a particular focus on the CNS control of metabolism, adipose tissue remodeling, and cancerResearch Description
Dr. Cao’s lab has characterized a novel brain-fat axis (hypothalamic-sympathoneural-adipocyte axis) underlying the anti-obesity and anticancer phenotypes associated with a complex environment using multidisciplinary approaches to further define this neuroendocrine axis, identify molecular mediators, and develop both genetic and pharmacological approaches to combat obesity, metabolic syndromes, and cancer.