Dr. Hong Qiao

Biography

Hong Qiao received a Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He subsequently moved to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California. His research focuses on chromatin remodeling and the establishment of specificity in gene expression responses to hormonal stressors. The highly interdisciplinary research program combines aspects of genetic, genomic, proteomic, and biochemical approaches, with the long-term goal of reducing crop susceptibility to stressors and allowing for higher yields under adverse conditions to support profitable crop production for the world's growing population. His research holds great potential for applications in the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. The long-term goal of Qiao's lab is to develop a validated mechanistic model that accurately describes the interplay of hormone signaling and stress response in chromatin regulation within the nucleus, the control center of the cell. The lab focuses on how transcription factors bind to specific DNA sequences in response to internal and external cues, recruiting and stabilizing the general transcriptional machinery required for gene expression. The development and application of novel techniques have significantly expanded the knowledge of the roles that signaling pathways and transcription factors play in the regulation of gene expression, where chromatin regulation plays a central role.

Research Interests