Dr. Congcong He

Biography

CongCong He is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, specializing in cell and developmental biology, with a particular focus on intracellular quality control mediated by autophagy. His research addresses the lysosomal degradation pathway that is essential for nutrient recycling and cellular maintenance. He investigates how autophagy is regulated in response to metabolic stress conditions like fasting and exercise, and how it contributes to cellular adaptation to changing energy demands. His work is particularly relevant to understanding metabolic and neurological disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegeneration. CongCong's lab aims to clarify the role of autophagy machinery in recognizing various cellular cargos, including aggregate-prone proteins and secretory proteins. His findings have significant implications for treating age-related diseases and metabolic disorders, as well as enhancing our understanding of exercise-induced metabolic benefits. He received his Bachelor's degree from Zhejiang University in 2004, his PhD from the University of Michigan in 2009, and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2013. CongCong is actively engaged in collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to advance research and improve patient care.

Research Interests