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Department of Pediatrics Heersink School of Medicine

Qing Richard Lu, Ph.D.

Aye Jamie photoProfessor





 
Education

Medical School
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New Brunswick, NJ

Fellowship
Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, MA.

Interests

Research Interest

Brain Tumors and Neural Repair

Dr. Lu has been interested in neuroscience and cancer biology to uncover the mechanisms and pathways underlying neurological disorders and cancer. His current research focuses on 1) how distinct glial cell types such as myelinating oligodendrocyte lineage cells contribute to neurological diseases and 2) how dysregulated intrinsic and extrinsic programs contribute to brain tumorigenesis, recurrence and metastasis.

During his postdoctoral work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School, Dr. Lu discovered a pair of bHLH transcription factors, Olig1 and Olig2, which are critical for oligodendrocyte lineage development and myelination. These findings have set a key milestone in understanding the molecular mechanisms of gliogenesis and brain tumorigenesis. Dr. Lu’s work as an independent investigator—beginning at UT Southwestern, continuing at Cincinnati Children’s, and now at the University of Alabama at Birmingham—has employed a combination of state-of-the-art molecular and genetic approaches, along with innovative conceptual frameworks, to investigate the mechanisms underlying neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis and autism as well as brain tumorigenesis. Dr. Lu lab has a strong translational theme with two major directions:

1) Development of targeted, radio-, and immunotherapies for brain tumors, including medulloblastoma and malignant gliomas (GBM and DIPG).

2) Development of novel therapeutics to promote myelin repair in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis).

The research goals include dissecting the etiological mechanisms of these neurological diseases and cancers to develop effective therapies by promoting functional regeneration while blocking brain tumorigenesis and recurrence. Dr Lu is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including Javits Neuroscience Award from the NIH-National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Harry Weaver Neuroscience Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Best Research Award at the Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center.

Clinical Interest

Brain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases

  • Selected Publications
    1. Chen F, Liu X, Zhong X, Chen X, Nicholson E, Liu K, Chen H, Lin Y, Shu Y, Zhou W, Schuurmans C, Lu QR. Neurons derived from NeuroD1-expressing astrocytes transition through transit-amplifying intermediates but lack functional maturity. Sci Adv. 2025 Jul 25;11(30):eadw9296. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adw9296.
    2. Kiang KM, Wong YKH, Sengupta S, Roussel MF, Lu QR. Developmental Origins and Oncogenesis in Medulloblastoma. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2025 Jul;48(1):85-102. doi: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-112723-061540.
    3. Liu X, Xin DE, Zhong X, Zhao C, Li Z, Zhang L, Dourson AJ, Lee L, Mishra S, Bayat AE, Nicholson E, Seibel WL, Yan B, Mason J, Turner BJ, Gonsalvez DG, Ong W, Chew SY, Ghosh B, Yoon SO, Xin M, He Z, Tchieu J, Wegner M, Nave KA, Franklin RJM, Dutta R, Trapp BD, Hu M, Smith MA, Jankowski MP, Barton SK, He X, Lu QR. Small-molecule-induced epigenetic rejuvenation promotes SREBP condensation and overcomes barriers to CNS myelin regeneration. Cell. 2024;187:2465-2484.e2422. PMID: 38701782.
    4. Hu X, Wu X, Berry K, Zhao C, Xin D, Ogurek S, Liu X, Zhang L, Luo Z, Sakabe M, Trubicka J, Łastowska M, Szulzewsky F, Holland EC, Lee L, Hu M, Xin M, Lu QR. Nuclear condensates of YAP fusion proteins alter transcription to drive ependymoma tumourigenesis. Nat Cell Biol. 2023 Feb;25(2):323-336.
    5. Luo Z, Xin D, Liao Y, Berry K, Ogurek S, Zhang F, Zhang L, Zhao C, Rao R, Dong X, Li H, Yu J, Lin Y, Huang G, Xu L, Xin M, Nishinakamura R, Yu J, Kool M, Pfister SM, Roussel MF, Zhou W, Weiss WA, Andreassen P, Lu QR. Loss of phosphatase CTDNEP1 potentiates aggressive medulloblastoma by triggering MYC amplification and genomic instability. Nat Commun. 2023 Feb 10;14(1):762.
    6. Wang J, Wang J, Yang J, Zhao C, Wu L, Xu L, Zhang F, Wegner M, Weng Q, Lu QR. CTCF-dependent chromatin architecture and SUZ12/PRC2 complex recruitment are required for peripheral myelination and repair. Nat Commun.2020;11(1):4133.
    7. Zhang L, He X, Liu X, Zhang F, Huang LF, Potter AS, Xu L, Zhou W, Zheng T, Luo Z, Berry KP, Pribnow A, Smith SM, Fuller C, Jones B, Fouladi M, Drissi R, Yang Z, Gustafson WC, Remke M, Pomeroy SL, Girard EJ, Olson JM, Morrissy AS, Vladoiu MC, Zhang J, Tian W, Xin M, Taylor MD, Potter SS, Roussel MF, Weiss WA, Lu QR. Single-cell transcriptomics in medulloblastoma reveals tumor-initiating progenitors and oncogenic cascades during tumorigenesis and relapse. Cancer Cell. 2019;36:1-17.
    8. He X, Zhang L, Queme LF, Liu X, Lu A, Waclaw RR, Dong X, Zhou W, Kidd G, Yoon SO, Buonanno A, Rubin JB, Xin M, Nave KA, Trapp BD, Jankowski MP, Lu QR. A histone deacetylase 3-dependent pathway delimits peripheral myelin growth and functional regeneration. Nat Med. 2018;24(3):338-351. PMID: 29431744.
    9. Weng Q, Wang J, Wang J, He D, Cheng Z, Zhang F, Verma R, Xu L, Dong X, He X, Potter A, Zhang L, Xin X, Blackshear PJ, Rich JN, He Q, Suvà M, Waclaw R, Potter S, Yu G, Lu QR. Single-cell transcriptomics uncovers glial progenitor diversity and cell fate determinants during development and gliomagenesis. Cell Stem Cell.2018;24:707-723.e708.
    10. Wu LMN, Deng Y, Wang J, Zhao C, Wang J, Rao R, Xu L, Zhou W, Choi K, Rizvi TA, Remke M, Rubin JB, Johnson RL, Carroll TJ, Stemmer-Rachamimov AO, Wu J, Zheng Y, Xin M, Ratner N, Lu QR. Programming of Schwann cells by Lats1/2-TAZ/YAP signaling drives malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumorigenesis. Cancer Cell. 2018 Feb 12;33(2):292-308.
    11. Zhao C, Dong C, Frah M, Deng Y, Marie C, Zhang F, Xu L, Ma Z, Dong D, Lin Y, Koenig S, Nait-Oumesmar B, Martin DM, Wu LN, Xin M, Zhou W, Parras C, Lu QR. Dual requirement of CHD8 for chromatin landscape establishment and histone methyltransferase recruitment to promote myelination and repair. Dev Cell. 2018 Jun 18;45(6):753-768.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.05.022.
    12. Wang H, Moyano AL, Ma Z, Deng Y, Lin Y, Zhang L, Zhao C, He X, Ma Z, Lu F, Xin X, Zhou W, Yoon S, Bongarzone ER, Lu QR. miR-219 cooperates with miR-338 in myelination and promotes myelin repair in the CNS. Dev Cell. 2017 Mar 27;40(6):566-582.
    13. Deng Y, Wu L, Bai S, Zhao C, Wang H, Wang J, Xu L, Zhou W, Xin M, Lu QR. A reciprocal regulatory loop between TAZ/YAP and G protein Gαs regulates Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation. Nat Commun.2017;8:15161. PMID: 28443644.
    14. He D, Wang J, Lu Y, Deng Y, Zhao C, Xu L, Chen Y, Hu YC, Zhou W, Lu QR. lncRNA functional networks in oligodendrocytes reveal stage-specific myelination control by a lncOL1/Suz12 complex in the CNS. Neuron. 2017 Jan 18;93(2):362-378.
    15. Jiang M, Liu L, He X, Wang H, Lin W, Wang H, Yoon SO, Wood TL, Lu QR. Regulation of PERK-eIF2α signaling by tuberous sclerosis complex-1 controls homeostasis and survival of myelinating oligodendrocytes. Nat Commun. 2016 Nov 22;7:13767.
    16. Zhao C, Deng Y, Liu W, Zhang L, Wang H, He X, Wu LN, He D, Weng Q, Li J, van Es JH, Goldman SA, Clevers H, Lu QR. Dual regulatory switch through interactions of Tcf7l2/Tcf4 with stage-specific partners propels oligodendroglial maturation. Nat Commun. 2016;7:10883. doi: 10.1038/ncomms10883.
    17. Lu F, Chen Y, Zhao C, Wang H, He D, Xu L, Wang J, He X, Deng Y, Lu EE, Liu X, Verma R, Bu H, Drissi R, Fouladi M, Stemmer-Rachamimov AO, Burns D, Xin M, Rubin JB, Bahassi EM, Canoll P, Holland EC, Lu QR. Olig2-dependent reciprocal shift in PDGF and EGF receptor signaling regulates tumor phenotype and mitotic growth in malignant glioma. Cancer Cell. 2016 May 9;29(5):669-683. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2016.03.027.
    18. He D, Marie C, Zhao C, Kim B, Wang J, Deng Y, Clavairoly A, Frah M, Wang H, He X, Hmidan H, Jones BV, Witte D, Zalc B, Zhou X, Choo DI, Martin DM, Parras C, Lu QR. Chd7 cooperates with Sox10 and regulates the onset of CNS myelination and remyelination. Nat Neurosci. 2016;19(5):678-689. PMID: 26928066.
    19. Wu LM, Wang J, Conidi A, Zhao C, Wang H, Ford Z, Zhang L, Zweier C, Ayee BG, Maurel P, Zwijsen A, Chan JR, Jankowski MP, Huylebroeck D, Lu QR. Zeb2 recruits HDAC-NuRD to inhibit Notch and controls Schwann cell differentiation and remyelination. Nat Neurosci. 2016 Jun 13. doi: 10.1038/nn.4322.
    20. Zhang L, He X, Liu L, Jiang M, Zhao C, Wang H, He D, Zheng T, Hassan A, Hou Y, Xin M, Sun Z, Lazar MA, Goldman SA, Olson EN, Lu QR. The interaction of Hdac3 with p300 histone acetyltransferase regulates the fate switch between oligodendrocyte and astrocyte lineages. Dev Cell. 2016;36:316-330.
    21. Shen YA, Chen Y, Dao DQ, Mayoral SR, Wu L, Meijer D, Ullian EM, Chan JR, Lu QR. Phosphorylation of LKB1/Par-4 establishes Schwann cell polarity to initiate and control myelin extent. Nat Commun. 2014;5:4991. PMID: 25255972.
    22. He X, Zhang L, Chen Y, Remke M, Shih D, Lu F, Wang H, Deng Y, Yu Y, Hu T, Xia Y, Wang F, Wu X, Ramaswamy V, Burns D, Kim S, Kool M, Pfister S, Weinstein LS, Pomeroy S, Gilbertson R, Rubin J, Hou Y, Wechsler-Reya R, Taylor M, Lu QR. The G-protein alpha subunit Gsα is a tumor suppressor in Sonic Hedgehog-driven medulloblastoma. Nat Med. 2014;20(9):1035-1042. PMID: 25150496.
    23. Yu Y, Chen Y, Kim B, Wang H, Zhao C, He X, Liu L, Liu LW, Wu M, Mao M, Chan J, Wu J, Lu QR. Olig2 targets chromatin remodelers to enhancers to initiate oligodendrocyte differentiation. Cell. 2013;152:248-261. PMCID: PMC3553550.
    24. Weng Q, Chen Y, Wang H, Xu X, Yang B, He Q, Shou W, Higashi Y, van den Berghe V, Seuntjens E, Kernie SG, Bukshpun P, Sherr EH, Huylebroeck D, Lu QR. Dual-mode modulation of Smad signaling by Smad-interacting protein Sip1 is required for myelination in the central nervous system. Neuron. 2012;73:713-728. PMID: 22365546.
    25. Chen Y, Wang H, Yoon SO, Xu X, Hottiger MO, Svaren J, Nave KA, Kim HA, Olson EN, Lu QR. HDAC-mediated deacetylation of NF-κB is critical for Schwann cell myelination. Nat Neurosci. 2011;14:437-441. PMID: 2142319.
    26. Zhao XH, He X, Han X, Yu Y, Ye F, Chen Y, Hoang T, Xu X, Li H, Xin M, Wang F, Appel B, Lu QR. MicroRNA-mediated control of oligodendrocyte differentiation. Neuron. 2010;65(5):612-626. PMID: 20223198.
    27. Chen Y, Wu H, Wang S, Hu T, Cai J, Hoang J, Escobar SS, Arnett HA, Trapp BD, Karandikar N, Hsieh J, Lu QR. The oligodendrocyte-specific G-protein coupled receptor GPR17 is a cell-intrinsic timer of myelination. Nat Neurosci. 2009;12(11):1398-1406. PMID: 19838178.
    28. Lu QR, Sun T, Zhu Z, Ma N, Garcia M, Stiles CD, Rowitch D. Common developmental requirement for Olig function indicates a motor neuron/oligodendrocyte connection. Cell. 2002;109:75-86.