Dr. Wanhe Li

Biography

Wanhe Li is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University in the College of Arts and Sciences and a CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research. He joined the Department in 2022. His research focuses on biological timing, particularly the effects of chronic social isolation and loneliness on public health. By utilizing experimental manipulations and studying sleep and wakefulness, he aims to elucidate the connections between circadian regulation in animal models and the physiological effects of social isolation and chronic stress. His earlier studies indicated that chronically isolated animals exhibited sleep loss and excessive food consumption, linking these behavioral changes to specific neural circuits in the Drosophila brain. His work seeks to establish a mechanistic link between chronic social isolation, metabolism, and sleep, responding to a call for effective animal models that investigate loneliness. Future research endeavors aim to explore the interplay of emotional states, sleep regulation, and metabolic processes within the context of genetics and neurobiology, particularly with ramifications for chronic diseases and cancer. He has been supported by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas, directing his research towards significant advancements in understanding stress and its impact on chronic illness progression.

Research Interests

Experience