Hui Yu

Dr. Yu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences with an 65% research, 35% teaching appointment. Dr. Yu was born in China and obtained both of her bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Animal Sciences in China. She came to the United State to pursue Ph.D degree at Purdue University, where she studied the genetic mechanism underlying muscle hypertrophy phenotype in Callipyge sheep (Greek word, “calli”- beautiful, “pyge” - buttocks). Afterwards, she received postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan with research focusing on obesity, diabetes and metabolism in adipose tissue and central nervous system.

Research Interest

• Identifying novel molecular targets in the central nervous system that respond to hunger and satiety signals through the use of spatial- and single-cell omics technology.
• Characterizing important genetic regulations that respond to hunger and satiety signals and evaluating their systematic effects on controlling energy homeostasis and eating behaviors.
• Exploring the neuronal circuits linked to metabolic homeostasis to unravel the intricate interplay of signals that regulate the body's energy balance
• Unraveling the genetic foundations of the central regulation of metabolic disorders associated with human diseases, such as Prader-Willi Syndrome.
• Exploration on the cellular and genetic factors that contributing to the Wooden-Breast syndrome in broiler chicken.

The overall aim of Dr Yu’s research projects is to integrate computational methods and well-controlled biochemical, molecular, cellular and genetic experimental approaches to decipher the intricate biological puzzles underlying disorders in both human and farm animals.