Zhuo Fu, PhD, spent four years as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Endocrinology division chief Zhenqi Liu. In January, she was awarded a three-year grant from the American Diabetes Association to pursue her research on “Angiotensin(1-7) regulation of microvascular perfusion and insulin action.” At the Department of Medicine’s Research & Scholars Day on May 11, Zhuo was among those selected to give an oral presentation about her research.
Zhuo giving oral presentation at DOM’s Research & Scholars Day (5/11/16)
I grew up in Jinzhou, a small city* in northeast China. I received my university education in China, majoring in biology, and came to the United States in 2005. I earned a PhD in human nutrition from Virginia Tech in 2011, and came to UVA the same year to start a postdoctoral fellowship in endocrinology.
Why research? Why endocrinology?
Research is a circle of asking why and trying to answer; I enjoy this circle so much because being curious is my default mode.
I am specifically interested in studying the pathology of diabetes — which is, of course, one of the primary topics that endocrinologists are interested in. Needless to say, diabetes is a huge problem around the world — including in China. It will take a continued global effort of scientists around the world to find the answers to this challenging disease.
Why UVA?
My division has provided me with great support for my research. We have a strong research team where we challenge one another with inspiring questions, dig into the literature together, and help each other develop hypotheses and research questions. The physicians in our division have been a great resource in helping me gain a deeper understanding of the diseases I study.
Presenting a poster at last year’s American Diabetes Association annual conference (Boston, June 2015).
Proudest achievement outside the professional realm?
I sold three pieces of my artwork at a fundraiser event to benefit the Charlottesville Police Foundation, held at the Paramount Theater this past February.
What are you usually doing in your spare time?
I practice martial art for a healthy body, and draw and paint to tame and focus my mind.
What’s one thing you always have in your fridge?
Space! That’s the only thing that can turn into anything.
Where did you go on your last vacation?
Virginia Beach — that’s where I took my last vacation, and where I’ll take my next. I am shark-proof.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Surfing!
Words to live by?
“Do not judge me. I was born to be awesome, not perfect.” – Rachael Bermingham
Zhuo (front, in black) and students at a computer workshop she taught at a meeting of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Southeast Region (Stoneville, Miss.; January 2016)
What about you would surprise us?
In the past year, I taught myself computer programming to aid in analyzing the data from my research, and I’ve taught computing workshops to biomedical and biology researchers at UVA, Virginia Tech, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Stanford University.
Recent publications:
– Zhao L, Fu Z, Wu J, Aylor KW, Barrett EJ, Cao W, Liu Z. Inflammation-induced microvascular insulin resistance is an early event in diet-induced obesity. Clin Sci (Lond). 2015 Dec;129(12):1025-36.
– Zhao L, Fu Z, Wu J, Aylor KW, Barrett EJ, Cao W, Liu Z. Globular adiponectin ameliorates metabolic insulin resistance via AMPK-mediated restoration of microvascular insulin responses. J Physiol. 2015 Sep 1;593(17):4067-79.
Editor’s note: Jinzhou is a coastal city in northeast China of about a million people (small by Chinese standards!).
Old city wall, Jinzhou (the city is more than a 1,000 years old).
Guangji Pagoda, Jinzhou.
Filed Under: News and Notes
Tags: Education, Endocrinology