Page 57 - Hormel Report 2023

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PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS:
• Xu, D., & Sun, L. (2022). HOTAIR underlies the region-specific development of adipose tissue. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 18(11), 663-664.
• Siang, D. T. C., Lim, Y. C., Kyaw, A. M. M., Win, K. N., Chia, S. Y., Degirmenci, U., Hu, X., Tan, B. C., Walet, A. C. E., Sun, L., & Xu, D. (2020). The RNA-binding protein HuR is a negative regulator in adipogenesis. Nat Commun, 11(1), 213.
• Xu, D., & Sun, L. (2020). A functional non-conserved long non-coding RNA in human adipose tissue. Nat Metab, 2(5), 385-386.
program maintenance in mature adipocytes. To the best of our knowledge, our results provide the first evidence that circRNAs serve as important regulators in adipocyte differentiation and metabolism.
Acknowledgements
In June 2023, our lab moved from Singapore to The Hormel Institute. From June to August 2023, we have worked diligently to set up the new lab. I am profoundly grateful to The Hormel Institute and its executive leadership, particularly Dr. Robert Clarke, for this incredible opportunity to advance my research endeavors. Their unwavering support and belief in our mission to understand the mechanisms of metabolism are invaluable. In addition, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the exceptional support staff across all operational departments who have been instrumental in ensuring that the setting up of our lab was smooth and successful. Their dedication and efforts provide an essential foundation upon which our research can flourish. Finally, I reserve my deepest gratitude for our researchers who have been instrumental in the establishment of our lab — Jovan Lee and Zhenyuan Tao. Without their relentless commitment and effort, the establishment of our new lab would not have been possible.
Together as a team, we are excited to embark on an exciting journey to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms governing adipocyte metabolism, thereby facilitating the develop- ment of innovative therapies for obesity and its associated metabolic diseases. With this incredible opportunity and the support of our institute, I am confident that our research will make a meaningful impact on improving human health.