Dr. Wu is an Associate Professor in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. The Wu lab combines stem cell biology and systems-based approaches involving genomics, bioinformatics and functional assays to unravel gene transcription and regulatory mechanisms governing stem cell differentiation. One major focus of her group is investigating stem cell neural differentiation and developing effective and safe treatment for spinal cord injury and neurological diseases. They are studying gene expression and the regulation of transcription factors and regulatory RNAs using next-generation sequencing technologies including RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, and ATAC-Seq etc.. The goal of Wu lab is to identify and modulate key regulators as therapeutic targets to direct the differentiation of stem cell into desired neural cell types more efficiently, and to increase transplantation safety.