Dr Wenyi Gu
Dr

Wenyi Gu

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 64168

Background

Dr. Wenyi Gu’s early education was conducted in China which include his undergraduate and master’s degrees in veterinary medicine. In 1996, he migrated to Australia and pursued his PhD study in biochemistry & molecular biology at the Australian National University (ANU). After a short period of work at John Curtin Medical School ANU as a junior scientist, he moved to Brisbane in 2001 for his post-doc at the University of Queensland and currently a post-doctoral research fellow at AIBN. He held a Peter Doherty Fellowship (2006-2009) and was further supported by NHMRC to spend 7 months at Harvard University as a visiting fellow in 2008. Since his post-doctoral research he has been working in the area of using RNAi to treat viral diseases and cancers. He also has a strong background in immunology and vaccine development.

Availability

Dr Wenyi Gu is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Biochemistry and cell biology Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cancer therapy (excl. chemotherapy and radiation therapy) Cell development, proliferation and death Clinical sciences Gene and molecular therapy Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches) Genetics Immunology Infectious diseases Medical biochemistry - nucleic acids Medical biochemistry and metabolomics Medical biotechnology Medical microbiology Medical molecular engineering of nucleic acids and proteins Microbiology Molecular targets Nanobiotechnology Nanomaterials Oncology and carcinogenesis Solid tumours Tumour immunology Virology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University

Research interests

  • Rational design and delivery of small RNAs for effective cancer gene therapies

    Major research focus is on RNA interference (RNAi) based gene therapy and cancer therapy. Closely associated with this focus, research areas such as oncogenes, cancer stem cells, targeted delivery systems, cancer cell biomarkers, and cancer immunotherapy are also covered. My recent research is more concentrated on RNAi delivery with nano-particles and on identifying therapeutic targets for cancer stem cells and exploring novel therapeutic approaches including using small RNAs or chemotherapeutic drugs or nature compounds to inhibit cancer stem cell growth.

Research impacts

Dr. Gu's research focus is on RNA interference (RNAi) based gene therapy and cancer therapy. Closely associated with this focus, he also interests in subjects such as oncogenes, cancer stem cells, targeted delivery, cancer cell biomarkers, and cancer immunotherapy. His recent research more focuses on RNAi delivery with nano-particles and on identifying therapeutic targets for cancer stem cells and exploring novel therapeutic approaches to inhibit cancer stem cell growth. His discovery that RNAi induces immunity to tumour antigens has led to a whole new field of biomedical research – that is the relationship between RNAi and acquired immune responses, and the role of RNAi techniques as specific and effective vaccine development tools for cancers and other diseases. This discovery has not only underpinned a high quality publication in PNAS USA but also an international patent that has been licensed by the world’s largest RNAi company, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals USA. Building on this, his recent research confirms that RNAi therapy has a profound effect on cancer stem cells (Gu et al 2011). More recently, he worked with his colleagues on RNAi therapy on osteoarthritis, which led to a high quality paper published by Nature Communication.

Search Professor Wenyi Gu’s works on UQ eSpace

136 works between 2003 and 2024
All (136) Journal Article (129) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (3) Other Outputs (1)

61 - 80 of 136 works

2018

Journal Article

Optimization of formulations consisting of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles and small interfering RNA for efficient knockdown of the target gene

Wu, Yanheng, Gu, Wenyi, Chen, Chen, Do, Son Trong and Xu, Zhi Ping (2018). Optimization of formulations consisting of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles and small interfering RNA for efficient knockdown of the target gene. ACS Omega, 3 (5), 4871-4877. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.8b00397

Optimization of formulations consisting of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles and small interfering RNA for efficient knockdown of the target gene

2018

Journal Article

Knocking down insulin receptor in pancreatic beta cell lines with lentiviral-small hairpin RNA reduces glucose-stimulated insulin secretion via decreasing the gene expression of insulin, GLUT2 and Pdx1

Wang, Jie, Gu, Wenyi and Chen, Chen (2018). Knocking down insulin receptor in pancreatic beta cell lines with lentiviral-small hairpin RNA reduces glucose-stimulated insulin secretion via decreasing the gene expression of insulin, GLUT2 and Pdx1. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19 (4) 985, 985. doi: 10.3390/ijms19040985

Knocking down insulin receptor in pancreatic beta cell lines with lentiviral-small hairpin RNA reduces glucose-stimulated insulin secretion via decreasing the gene expression of insulin, GLUT2 and Pdx1

2018

Journal Article

A novel Notch1 missense mutation (C1133Y) in the Abruptex domain exhibits enhanced proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Zheng, Yang, Wang, Zhao, Ding, Xu, Zhang, Wei, Li, Gang, Liu, Laikui, Wu, Heming, Gu, Wenyi, Wu, Yunong and Song, Xiaomeng (2018). A novel Notch1 missense mutation (C1133Y) in the Abruptex domain exhibits enhanced proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Cell International, 18 (1) 6, 1-15. doi: 10.1186/s12935-017-0496-5

A novel Notch1 missense mutation (C1133Y) in the Abruptex domain exhibits enhanced proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma

2018

Journal Article

One-pot synthesis of raspberry-like mesoporous silica nanospheres

Liu, Tingting, Liu, Lihong, Gu, Wenyi, Liu, Jian and Liu, Shaomin (2018). One-pot synthesis of raspberry-like mesoporous silica nanospheres. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 18 (1), 401-406. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2018.14607

One-pot synthesis of raspberry-like mesoporous silica nanospheres

2018

Journal Article

Overexpression of Polo-like kinase1 (PLK1) in chondrosarcoma and its implications for cancer progression

Li, Kelu, Ma, Hongmei, Zheng, Xiuyan, Hu, Yali, Wang, Yue, Zhang, Kunpeng, Chen, Jiahan, Qi, Yan, Jiang, Jinfang, Pang, Lijuan, Tao, Lin, Gu, Wenyi, Li, Feng and Zou, Hong (2018). Overexpression of Polo-like kinase1 (PLK1) in chondrosarcoma and its implications for cancer progression. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, 11 (3), 1707-1711.

Overexpression of Polo-like kinase1 (PLK1) in chondrosarcoma and its implications for cancer progression

2017

Journal Article

Combined Erlotinib and PF-03084014 treatment contributes to synthetic lethality in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Zheng, Yang, Wang, Zhao, Ding, Xu, Dong, Yibo, Zhang, Wei, Zhang, Wei, Zhong, Yi, Gu, Wenyi, Wu, Yunong and Song, Xiaomeng (2017). Combined Erlotinib and PF-03084014 treatment contributes to synthetic lethality in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Proliferation, 51 (3) e12424, e12424. doi: 10.1111/cpr.12424

Combined Erlotinib and PF-03084014 treatment contributes to synthetic lethality in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

2017

Journal Article

High adjuvant activity of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles and nanosheets in anti-tumour vaccine formulations

Yan, Shiyu, Gu, Wenyi, Zhang, Bing, Rolfe, Barbara E and Xu, Zhi Ping (2017). High adjuvant activity of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles and nanosheets in anti-tumour vaccine formulations. Dalton Transactions, 47 (9), 2956-2964. doi: 10.1039/c7dt03725b

High adjuvant activity of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles and nanosheets in anti-tumour vaccine formulations

2017

Journal Article

Nanoformulations of albendazole as effective anticancer and antiparasite agents

Movahedi, Fatemeh, Li, Li, Gu, Wenyi and Xu, Zhi Ping (2017). Nanoformulations of albendazole as effective anticancer and antiparasite agents. Nanomedicine, 12 (20), 2555-2574. doi: 10.2217/nnm-2017-0102

Nanoformulations of albendazole as effective anticancer and antiparasite agents

2017

Journal Article

Devising new lipid-coated calcium phosphate/carbonate hybrid nanoparticles for controlled release in endosomes for efficient gene delivery

Wu, Yilun, Gu, Wenyi, Tang, Jie and Xu, Zhi Ping (2017). Devising new lipid-coated calcium phosphate/carbonate hybrid nanoparticles for controlled release in endosomes for efficient gene delivery. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 5 (34), 7194-7203. doi: 10.1039/c7tb01635b

Devising new lipid-coated calcium phosphate/carbonate hybrid nanoparticles for controlled release in endosomes for efficient gene delivery

2017

Journal Article

Transforming growth factor-β1 signaling promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like phenomena, cell motility, and cell invasion in synovial sarcoma cells

Qi, Yan, Wang, Ning, He, Yonglai, Zhang, Jun, Zou, Hong, Zhang, Wenjie, Gu, Wenyi, Huang, Yalan, Lian, Xiaojuan, Hu, Jianming, Zhao, Jin, Cui, Xiaobin, Pang, Lijuan and Li, Feng (2017). Transforming growth factor-β1 signaling promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like phenomena, cell motility, and cell invasion in synovial sarcoma cells. PLoS One, 12 (8) e0182680, e0182680. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182680

Transforming growth factor-β1 signaling promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like phenomena, cell motility, and cell invasion in synovial sarcoma cells

2017

Journal Article

Novel insights into mitochondrial gene rearrangement in thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) from the grass thrips, Anaphothrips obscurus

Liu, Hangrui, Song, Fan, Gu, Wenyi, Feng, Jinian, Cai, Wanzhi and Shao, Renfu (2017). Novel insights into mitochondrial gene rearrangement in thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) from the grass thrips, Anaphothrips obscurus. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 4284, 4284. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-04617-5

Novel insights into mitochondrial gene rearrangement in thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) from the grass thrips, Anaphothrips obscurus

2017

Journal Article

Mannose-conjugated layered double hydroxide nanocomposite for targeted siRNA delivery to enhance cancer therapy

Li, Li, Zhang, Run, Gu, Wenyi and Ping, Zhi (2017). Mannose-conjugated layered double hydroxide nanocomposite for targeted siRNA delivery to enhance cancer therapy. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 14 (7), 2355-2364. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2017.06.006

Mannose-conjugated layered double hydroxide nanocomposite for targeted siRNA delivery to enhance cancer therapy

2017

Journal Article

Increased PD-L1 expression in breast and colon cancer stem cells

Wu, Yanheng, Chen, Mingshui, Wu, Peihong, Chen, Chen, Xu, Zhi Ping and Gu, Wenyi (2017). Increased PD-L1 expression in breast and colon cancer stem cells. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 44 (5), 602-604. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12732

Increased PD-L1 expression in breast and colon cancer stem cells

2017

Journal Article

Prognostic value of the MicroRNA-29 family in multiple human cancers: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Qi, Yan, Huang, Yalan, Pang, Lijuan, Gu, Wenyi, Wang, Ning, Hu, Jianming, Cui, Xiaobin, Zhang, Jun, Zhao, Jin, Liu, Chunxia, Zhang, Wenjie, Zou, Hong and Li, Feng (2017). Prognostic value of the MicroRNA-29 family in multiple human cancers: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 44 (4), 441-454. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12726

Prognostic value of the MicroRNA-29 family in multiple human cancers: a meta-analysis and systematic review

2017

Journal Article

Drug resistance and cancer stem cells: the shared but distinct roles of hypoxia-inducible factors HIF1α and HIF2α

Schoning, Jennifer Petra, Monteiro, Michael and Gu, Wenyi (2017). Drug resistance and cancer stem cells: the shared but distinct roles of hypoxia-inducible factors HIF1α and HIF2α. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology, 44 (2), 153-161. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12693

Drug resistance and cancer stem cells: the shared but distinct roles of hypoxia-inducible factors HIF1α and HIF2α

2016

Journal Article

Short interfering RNA induced generation and translation of stable 5' mRNA cleavage intermediates

Singhania, Richa, Pavey, Sandra, Payne, Elizabeth, Gu, Wenyi, Clancy, Jennifer, Jubair, Luqman, Preiss, Thomas, Saunders, Nicholas and McMillan, Nigel A. J. (2016). Short interfering RNA induced generation and translation of stable 5' mRNA cleavage intermediates. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1859 (8), 1034-1042. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2016.06.005

Short interfering RNA induced generation and translation of stable 5' mRNA cleavage intermediates

2016

Journal Article

Systematic identification, characterization and target gene analysis of microRNAs involved in osteoarthritis subchondral bone pathogenesis

Prasadam, Indira, Batra, Jyotsna, Perry, Samuel, Gu, Wenyi, Crawford, Ross and Xiao, Yin (2016). Systematic identification, characterization and target gene analysis of microRNAs involved in osteoarthritis subchondral bone pathogenesis. Calcified Tissue International, 99 (1), 43-55. doi: 10.1007/s00223-016-0125-7

Systematic identification, characterization and target gene analysis of microRNAs involved in osteoarthritis subchondral bone pathogenesis

2016

Journal Article

Efficient drug delivery using SiO2-layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

Li, Li, Gu, Zi, Gu, Wenyi, Liu, Jian and Xu, Zhi Ping (2016). Efficient drug delivery using SiO2-layered double hydroxide nanocomposites. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 470, 47-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2016.02.042

Efficient drug delivery using SiO2-layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

2016

Journal Article

Synergistic inhibition of colon cancer cell growth with nanoemulsion-loaded paclitaxel and PI3K/ mTOR dual inhibitor BEZ235 through apoptosis

Zou, Hong, Li, Li, Garcia Carcedo, Ines, Xu, Zhi Ping, Monteiro, Michael and Gu, Wenyi (2016). Synergistic inhibition of colon cancer cell growth with nanoemulsion-loaded paclitaxel and PI3K/ mTOR dual inhibitor BEZ235 through apoptosis. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 11, 1947-1958. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S100744

Synergistic inhibition of colon cancer cell growth with nanoemulsion-loaded paclitaxel and PI3K/ mTOR dual inhibitor BEZ235 through apoptosis

2016

Journal Article

Efficient and durable vaccine against Intimin β of Diarrheagenic E. Coli induced by clay nanoparticles

Chen, Weiyu, Zhang, Bing, Mahony, Timothy, Gu, Wenyi, Rolfe, Barbara and Xu, Zhi Ping (2016). Efficient and durable vaccine against Intimin β of Diarrheagenic E. Coli induced by clay nanoparticles. Small, 12 (12), 1627-1639. doi: 10.1002/smll.201503359

Efficient and durable vaccine against Intimin β of Diarrheagenic E. Coli induced by clay nanoparticles

Past funding

  • 2017 - 2018
    Development of immunotherapy for viral-induced cancers
    Guangdong Tophealth Biotechnology Co. Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Developing a mouse model of spontaneous hepatocyte carcinoma
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - FirstLink
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Bio-immunotherapy for cervical cancer
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    siRNA-based Anti-Tumour Immunity
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Evolution and function of fragmented animal mitochondrial genomes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Evolution and function of fragmented animal mitochondrial genomes (ARC Discovery Project administered by The University of the Sunshine Coast)
    University of the Sunshine Coast
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Novel photodynamic therapy for targeted skin cancer treatment: an integrated bionanotechnology
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2008
    MicroRNA analysis of cervical cancer HeLa cells resistant to gene silencing of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncogenes
    NHMRC Travelling Award for Research Training
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    The Role of RNA interference in the induction of immune responses
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Using siRNA and shRNA as antigen presentationenhancers for anti-tumour immunity
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Sensitise cervical cancer cells to shRNA-mediated gene silence
    NHMRC Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowship
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Wenyi Gu is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Identifying therapeutic targets and developing targeted cancer therapies for cancer stem cells

  • Drug delivery with nanotechnology and RNA interference based thearpy

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Roles of surface expression of PD-L1 and the regulation by E2 in human endometrial and breast cancers

    Associate Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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