Food, Microbiome, and Metabolism Laboratory
Contact Us
Signature Research
1. Lipid Metabolism and Gut-Brain Health
Utilizing targeted and untargeted lipidomics approaches to characterize dynamic changes in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-derived lipid mediators under pathological conditions in multiple animal models. Research focuses on elucidating the biological functions of these bioactive lipid metabolites and their metabolic pathways in regulating inflammation, gut health, neuroimmune communication, and disease progression.
2. Bioactive Food Components and Gut Disease Prevention
Employing cell culture and animal models to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of food-derived bioactive compounds and functional foods, including hempseed, watercress, buttermilk, and legumes, in preventing intestinal diseases, modulating inflammation, and promoting gut health.
Applying microbiome sequencing, microbial depletion strategies, and integrative multi-omics approaches to determine how foodborne risk factors, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), mycotoxins, and antimicrobial additives, contribute to intestinal disorders. Research aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which these exposures induce gut microbial dysbiosis, disrupt host-microbiota interactions, and impair intestinal health.
pUBLICATIONS
Wang W*, Yang J*, Zhang J*, Wang Y, Hwang S, Qi W, Wan D, Kim D, Sun J, Sanidad K, Yang H, Park Y, Liu, J-Y, Zhao X, Zheng X, Liu Z, Hammock BD, Zhang G. Lipidomic profiling reveals soluble epoxide hydrolase as a therapeutic target of obesity-induced colonic inflammation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2018; 115(20):5283-5288.
Yang H*, Wang W*, Romano KA, Gu M, Sanidad KZ, Kim D, Yang J, Schmidt B, Panigrahy D, Pei R, Martin DA, Ozay EI, Wang Y, Song M, Bolling BW, Xiao H, Minter LM, Yang G, Liu Z, Rey FE, and Zhang G. A common antimicrobial additive increases colonic inflammation and colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice. Science Translational Medicine 2018; 10(443): eaan4116.
Wang W*, Yang J*, Edin ML*, Wang Y*, Luo Y, Wan D, Yang H, Sanidad KZ, Song M, Bisbee H, Bradbury J, Nan G, Zhang J, Shih P, Lee K, Minter L, Kim D, Xiao H, Liu J, Hammock BD, Zeldin D, Zhang G. Targeted metabolomics identifies cytochrome P450 monooxygenase eicosanoid pathway as novel therapeutic target of colon tumorigenesis. Cancer Research 2019; 79(8):1822–1830.
Fishbein A*, Wang W*, Yang H*, Yang J*, Hallisey VM, Deng J, Verheul SML, Hwang SH, Gartung A, Wang Y, Bielenberg DR, Huang S, Kieran MW, Hammock BD, Panigrahy D. Resolution of eicosanoid/cytokine storm prevents carcinogen and inflammation-initiated hepatocellular cancer progression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2020; 117(35):21576-21587.
Kelly AG*, Wang W*, Rothenberger E*, Yang J*, Gilligan MM, Kipper FC, Attaya A, Gartung A, Hwang SH, Gillespie MJ, Bayer RL, Quinlivan KM, Torres KL, Huang S, Mitsiades N, Yang H, Hammock BD, Panigrahy D. Enhancing cancer immunotherapy via inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2024;121(7):e2314085121.
Wang W, Wang Y, Sanidad KZ, Wang Y, Zhang J, Yang W, Sun Q, Bayram I, Song R, Yang H, Johnson D, Sherman HL, Kim D, Minter LM, Wong JJ, Zeng MY, Decker EA, Zhang G. Oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acid promotes colitis and colitis-associated tumorigenesis in mice. J Crohns Colitis 2024; Sep 16:jjae148. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjae148.
Woo J*, Cheng D*, Long EA, Whitnay KL, Reddivari L, Jiang Q, Simsek S, Ju T, Wang W. Hemp seed mitigated dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by modulating macrophage polarization and gut microbiota. Food & Function 2026; 17 (1), 231-242
Cheng D, Shen G, Pathiranage JC, Zhao Y, Ferreira CR, Zheng Q, Yuan C, Wang W. Perfluorooctanoic Acid Exposure Disrupts Gut Microbiota and Aggravates Experimental Colitis. Environmental Pollution 2026; 406, 128646
Shen G*, Cheng D*, Karunathilaka JK, Woo J, Li D, Wooton JL, Jaynes P, Ju T, Wang W. Watercress Extract Reduces Experimental Colitis by Modulating Inflammation and Regulating the Gut Microbiota. Nutrients 2026; 18(14):2369.