Our laboratory focuses on the novel roles of the nuclear receptor NR2E3 in liver diseases and cancer. Of the 48 known human nuclear receptors, the biological functions of NR2E3 remain largely unexplored. Approximately 16% of FDA-approved drugs target nuclear receptors, including estrogen and androgen receptors, highlighting the translational potential of our NR2E3 research program. Our long-term goal is to develop mechanism-based, gene-oriented epigenetic therapies for precision medicine targeting liver diseases and cancer. In the short term, we aim to elucidate the roles of NR2E3 in the epigenetic alterations underlying the sex-dependent development of liver diseases and cancer. Additionally, we seek to establish NR2E3 as a molecular target for precision medicine in a sex-dependent manner.
Furthermore, our research investigates the interplay between the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification pathway and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a xenobiotic sensor and ligand-activated transcription factor. AHR is activated by various environmental toxicants, phytochemicals, and microbiome-derived metabolites and plays a pivotal role in numerous human diseases and cancers. m6A, the most abundant mRNA modification, regulates RNA stability, splicing, transport, and translation. This study will explore novel molecular links between m6A and AHR signaling pathways, providing critical insights for their development as therapeutic molecular targets.