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Hai Nguyen
Assistant Professor
Department of Nutritional Sciences
Margaret McKean Love Chair in Nutrition, Cellular and Molecular Sciences (Fellow)-
Dr. Nguyen completed his undergraduate studies in biochemistry and molecular biology at Washington State University (WSU). He then pursued his PhD in Endocrinology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he joined Dr. Hei Sook Sul's lab focusing on adipose tissue and obesity. Dr. Nguyen completed his postdoc in the lab of Dr. Nadav Ahituv at the University of California, San Francisco where he investigated how genetic variants predispose to obesity, particularly investigating the role of gene regulatory elements in obesity. During this time, he also bioengineered fat cells to treat metabolic diseases and cancer. Dr. Nguyen’s current research is centered on the comprehensive mapping and characterization of pivotal regulatory elements and genetic variants responsible for sex-specific fat distribution and obesity. By investigating the molecular and genetic determinants of sex-specific obesity, his work unveils mechanistic insights into adipose tissue development and the hypothalamic regulation of feeding.
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1. Genetic Variants and Obesity: We investigate the role of genetic variants in predisposing individuals to obesity and related metabolic disturbances in the adipose tissue and hypothalamus.2. Adipose tissue biology and sex difference: We study the genetic underpinnings of sex-specific differences in adipose tissue biology, including adipocyte differentiation, lipogenesis, lipolysis, and adipokine secretion, to understand their impact on obesity development and metabolic outcomes.3. Gene therapy and metabolic disease: We are dedicated to translating our findings into real-world applications by developing targeted CRIPSR gene therapy that can effectively address the challenges associated with adiposity and metabolic disorders.
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Gordon, Wei E; Baek, Seungbyn; Nguyen, Hai P; Kuo, Yien-Ming; Bradley, Rachael; Galazyuk, Alex; Lee, Insuk; Ingala, Melissa; Simmons, Nancy B; Schountz, Tony; "Integrative single-cell characterization of frugivorous adaptations in the bat kidney and pancreas", Nature Communications. 15, 186, 2024)
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Wang, Yuhui; Nguyen, Hai P; Xue, Pengya; Xie, Ying; Yi, Danielle; Lin, Frances; Viscarra, Jose A; Ibe, Nnejiuwa U; Duncan, Robin E; Sul, Hei Sook; A new LD protein, "ApoL6 disrupts the Perilipin 1-HSL interaction to inhibit lipolysis",Nature Communications. 15, 186, 2024
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Nguyen, Hai P; Villivalam, Sneha Damal; Jung, Byung Chul; You, Dongjoo; Lin, Frances; Yi, Danielle; Pi, Anna; Ma, Katherine; Jung, Sunhee; Park, Sang-Hee; "AIFM2 is required for high-intensity aerobic exercise in promoting glucose utilization", Diabetes (2022)
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Nguyen, Hai P; Lin, Frances; Yi, Danielle; Xie, Ying; Dinh, Jennie; Xue, Pengya; Sul, Hei Sook; "Aging-dependent regulatory cells emerge in subcutaneous fat to inhibit adipogenesis", Developmental cell (2021)
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Nguyen, Hai P; Yi, Danielle; Sul, Hei Sook; "Adipose tissue development and metabolic regulation", Lipid Signaling and Metabolism(2020)
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Yi, Danielle; Nguyen, Hai P (co-first); Dinh, Jennie; Viscarra, Jose A; Xie, Ying; Lin, Frances; Zhu, Madeleine; Dempersmier, Jon M; Wang, Yuhui; Sul, Hei Sook; "Dot1l interacts with Zc3h10 to activate Ucp1 and other thermogenic genes", Elife (2020)
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Nguyen, Hai P; Yi, Danielle; Lin, Frances; Viscarra, Jose A; Tabuchi, Chihiro; Ngo, Katina; Shin, Gawon; Lee, Angus Yiu-fai; Wang, Yuhui; Sul, Hei Sook; "Aifm2, a NADH oxidase, supports robust glycolysis and is required for cold-and diet-induced thermogenesis", Molecular cell (2020)
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Viscarra, Jose A; Wang, Yuhui;Nguyen, Hai P; Choi, Yoon Gi; Sul, Hei Sook; "Histone demethylase JMJD1C is phosphorylated by mTOR to activate de novo lipogenesis." Nature communications (2020)
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Yi, Danielle;Nguyen, Hai P; Sul, Hei Sook; "Epigenetic dynamics of the thermogenic gene program of adipocytes", Biochemical Journal (2020)
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Yi, Danielle; Dempersmier, Jon M; Nguyen, Hai P; Viscarra, Jose A; Dinh, Jennie; Tabuchi, Chihiro; Wang, Yuhui; Sul, Hei Sook; "Zc3h10 acts as a transcription factor and is phosphorylated to activate the thermogenic program", Cell reports (2019)
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Gulyaeva, Olga; Nguyen, Hai; Sambeat, Audrey; Heydari, Kartoosh; Sul, Hei Sook; "Sox9-Meis1 inactivation is required for adipogenesis, advancing Pref-1+ to PDGFRα+ cells", Cell reports (2018)
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- California’s Stem Cell Agency (CIRM) postdoctoral fellowship, 2021-2023.
- Charles J. Epstein Trainee Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Research, 2022.
- E.L. Robert Stokstad Memorial Fund Award for research excellence in experimental nutrition, University of California, Berkeley, 2020.
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- ADGRG6 Promotes Adipogenesis and is Involved in Sex-Specific Fat Distribution, American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) meeting, Los Angeles, 2022.
- Engineering white adipose tissue to treat obesity and cancer, California’s Stem Cell Agency (CIRM) fellowship seminar, University of California, San Francisco, 2022.
- ADGRG6 Promotes Adipogenesis and is Involved in Sex-Specific Fat Distribution, Biomedical Science seminar, University of California, San Francisco, 2022.
- Engineering white adipose tissue to treat obesity, Diabetes Center at University of California, San Francisco, 2022.
Aging-Dependent Regulatory Cells Promote Loss of Subcutaneous Fat BAMM Meeting, Stanford University, 2020 - Aifm2: Brown Adipose-Specific Lipid Droplet Protein for Thermogenesis Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, 2019.
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