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)

81 - 100 of 136 works

2016

Journal Article

The complete genome of Brucella Suis 019 provides insights on cross-species infection

Wang, Yuanzhi, Wang, Zhen, Chen, Xin, Zhang, Hui, Guo, Fei, Zhang, Ke, Feng, Hanping, Gu, Wenyi, Wu, Changxin, Ma, Lei, Li, Tiansen, Chen, Chuangfu and Gao, Shan (2016). The complete genome of Brucella Suis 019 provides insights on cross-species infection. Genes, 7 (2) 7, 7. doi: 10.3390/genes7020007

The complete genome of Brucella Suis 019 provides insights on cross-species infection

2016

Journal Article

Direct synthesis of layered double hydroxide nanosheets for efficient siRNA delivery

Li, L., Gu, Z., Gu, W. Y. and Xu, Z. P. (2016). Direct synthesis of layered double hydroxide nanosheets for efficient siRNA delivery. RSC Advances, 6 (98), 95518-95526. doi: 10.1039/c6ra19225d

Direct synthesis of layered double hydroxide nanosheets for efficient siRNA delivery

2015

Journal Article

Size-dependent gene delivery of amine-modified silica nanoparticles

Yu, Meihua, Niu, Yuting, Zhang, Jun, Zhang, Hongwei, Yang, Yannan, Taran, Elena, Jambhrunkar, Siddharth, Gu, Wenyi, Thorn, Peter and Yu, Chengzhong (2015). Size-dependent gene delivery of amine-modified silica nanoparticles. Nano Research, 9 (2), 291-305. doi: 10.1007/s12274-015-0909-5

Size-dependent gene delivery of amine-modified silica nanoparticles

2015

Journal Article

PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway dual inhibitor BEZ235 suppresses the stemness of colon cancer stem cells

Chen, Jiezhong, Shao, Renfu, Li, Feng, Monteiro, Michael, Liu, Jun-Ping, Xu, Zhi Ping and Gu, Wenyi (2015). PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway dual inhibitor BEZ235 suppresses the stemness of colon cancer stem cells. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 42 (12), 1317-1326. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12493

PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway dual inhibitor BEZ235 suppresses the stemness of colon cancer stem cells

2015

Journal Article

Gamma tocotrienol targets tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 in mammospheres resulting in cell death through RAS/ERK pathway

Gu, Wenyi, Prasadam, Indira, Yu, Meihua, Zhang, Fengxia, Ling, Patrick, Xiao, Yin and Yu, Chengzhong (2015). Gamma tocotrienol targets tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 in mammospheres resulting in cell death through RAS/ERK pathway. BMC Cancer, 15 (1) 609, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-1614-1

Gamma tocotrienol targets tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 in mammospheres resulting in cell death through RAS/ERK pathway

2015

Journal Article

Nanotechnology in the management of cervical cancer

Chen, Jiezhong, Gu, Wenyi, Yang, Lei, Chen, Chen, Shao, Renfu, Xu, Kewei and Xu, Zhi Ping (2015). Nanotechnology in the management of cervical cancer. Reviews in Medical Virology, 25 (S1), 72-83. doi: 10.1002/rmv.1825

Nanotechnology in the management of cervical cancer

2015

Journal Article

Amine-functionalized SiO2 nanodot-coated layered double hydroxide nanocomposites for enhanced gene delivery

Li, Li, Gu, Wenyi, Liu, Jian, Yan, Shiyu and Xu, Zhi Ping (2015). Amine-functionalized SiO2 nanodot-coated layered double hydroxide nanocomposites for enhanced gene delivery. Nano Research, 8 (2), 682-694. doi: 10.1007/s12274-014-0552-6

Amine-functionalized SiO2 nanodot-coated layered double hydroxide nanocomposites for enhanced gene delivery

2015

Book Chapter

Silencing of E6/E7 expression in cervical cancer stem-like cells

Gu, Wenyi, McMillan, Nigel and Yu, Chengzhong (2015). Silencing of E6/E7 expression in cervical cancer stem-like cells. Cervical cancer: methods and protocols. (pp. 173-182) edited by Daniel Keppler and Athena W. Lin. New York, NY United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2013-6_12

Silencing of E6/E7 expression in cervical cancer stem-like cells

2015

Conference Publication

Efficient drug delivery for cancer treatment using Si02-LDH nanocomposites

Li, L., Gu, Z., Gu, W. Y., Liu, J. and Xu, Z. P. (2015). Efficient drug delivery for cancer treatment using Si02-LDH nanocomposites. 10th Annual TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo, Held Jointly with the 18th Annual Nanotech Conference and Expo, and the 2015 National SBIR/STTR Conference, Washington, DC, United States, 14-17 June 2015. Taylor and Francis.

Efficient drug delivery for cancer treatment using Si02-LDH nanocomposites

2014

Journal Article

PTEN hypermethylation profiles of Chinese Kazakh patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Pan, Q. F., Li, W. T., Dong, H. C., Chen, Y. Z., Yin, L., Liu, W., Wang, W. W., Liu, D., Li, S. G., Gu, W. Y., Chen, J. Z., Yang, L., Zhang, W. J. and Li, F. (2014). PTEN hypermethylation profiles of Chinese Kazakh patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Diseases of the Esophagus, 27 (4), 396-402. doi: 10.1111/dote.12106

PTEN hypermethylation profiles of Chinese Kazakh patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

2014

Journal Article

ATP- binding cassette transporter A1 ( ABCA1) promotes arsenic tolerance in human cells by reducing cellular arsenic accumulation

Tan, Xiaohua, Yang, Li, Xian, Lingling, Huang, Jin, Di, Chunhong, Gu, Wenyi, Guo, Shuli and Yang, Lei (2014). ATP- binding cassette transporter A1 ( ABCA1) promotes arsenic tolerance in human cells by reducing cellular arsenic accumulation. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 41 (4), 287-294. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12219

ATP- binding cassette transporter A1 ( ABCA1) promotes arsenic tolerance in human cells by reducing cellular arsenic accumulation

2014

Journal Article

Co-delivery of siRNAs and anti-cancer drugs using layered double hydroxide nanoparticles

Li, Li, Gu, Wenyi, Chen, Jiezhong, Chen, Weiyu and Xu, Zhi P. (2014). Co-delivery of siRNAs and anti-cancer drugs using layered double hydroxide nanoparticles. Biomaterials, 35 (10), 3331-3339. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.12.095

Co-delivery of siRNAs and anti-cancer drugs using layered double hydroxide nanoparticles

2014

Journal Article

Inactivation of miR-34a by aberrant CpG methylation in Kazakh patients with esophageal carcinoma

Cui, Xiaobin, Zhao, Zhimin, Liu, Dong, Guo, Tao, Li, Su, Hu, Jianming, Liu, Chunxia, Yang, Lan, Cao, Yuwen, Jiang, Jinfang, Liang, Weihua, Liu, Wei, Li, Shugang, Wang, Lianghai, Wang, Lidong, Gu, Wenyi, Wu, Chuanyue, Chen, Yunzhao and Li, Feng (2014). Inactivation of miR-34a by aberrant CpG methylation in Kazakh patients with esophageal carcinoma. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, 33 (1) 20. doi: 10.1186/1756-9966-33-20

Inactivation of miR-34a by aberrant CpG methylation in Kazakh patients with esophageal carcinoma

2014

Journal Article

Synthesis of multi-functional large pore mesoporous silica nanoparticles as gene carriers

Hartono, Sandy B., Yu, Meihua, Gu, Wenyi, Yang, Jie, Strounina, Ekaterina, Wang, Xiaolin, Qiao, Shizhang and Yu, Chengzhong (2014). Synthesis of multi-functional large pore mesoporous silica nanoparticles as gene carriers. Nanotechnology, 25 (5) 055701, 055701.1-055701.13. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/5/055701

Synthesis of multi-functional large pore mesoporous silica nanoparticles as gene carriers

2014

Journal Article

Osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs by β-tricalcium phosphate stimulating macrophages via BMP2 signalling pathway

Chen, Zetao, Wu, Chengtie, Gu, Wenyi, Klein, Travis, Crawford, Ross and Xiao, Yin (2014). Osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs by β-tricalcium phosphate stimulating macrophages via BMP2 signalling pathway. Biomaterials, 35 (5), 1507-1518. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.11.014

Osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs by β-tricalcium phosphate stimulating macrophages via BMP2 signalling pathway

2014

Other Outputs

Polymers for siRNA delivery

Monteiro, Michael, Gu, W., Phuoc, T. and Jia, Z. (2014). Polymers for siRNA delivery. WO2014015367.

Polymers for siRNA delivery

2013

Journal Article

Multiple polymorphisms within the PLCE1 are associated with esophageal cancer via promoting the gene expression in a Chinese Kazakh population

Cui, Xiao-Bin, Chen, Yun-Zhao, Pang, Xue-lian, Liu, Wei, Hu, Jian-Ming, Li, Shu-Gang, Yang, Lan, Zhang, Wen-Jie, Liu, Chun-xia, Cao, Yu-wen, Jiang, Jin-Fang, Gu, Wen-Yi, Pang, James, Yang, Lei, Yuan, Xiang-Lin, Yu, Shi-Ying and Li, Feng (2013). Multiple polymorphisms within the PLCE1 are associated with esophageal cancer via promoting the gene expression in a Chinese Kazakh population. Gene, 530 (2), 315-322. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.08.057

Multiple polymorphisms within the PLCE1 are associated with esophageal cancer via promoting the gene expression in a Chinese Kazakh population

2013

Journal Article

Impact of extracellular matrix derived from osteoarthritis subchondral bone osteoblasts on osteocytes: Role of integrinβ1 and focal adhesion kinase signaling cues

Prasadam, Indira, Farnaghi, Saba, Feng, Jian Q., Gu, Wenyi, Perry, Samuel, Crawford, Ross and Xiao, Yin (2013). Impact of extracellular matrix derived from osteoarthritis subchondral bone osteoblasts on osteocytes: Role of integrinβ1 and focal adhesion kinase signaling cues. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 15 (5). doi: 10.1186/ar4333

Impact of extracellular matrix derived from osteoarthritis subchondral bone osteoblasts on osteocytes: Role of integrinβ1 and focal adhesion kinase signaling cues

2013

Journal Article

Overexpression of PLCE1 in Kazakh esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: implications in cancer metastasis and aggressiveness

Chen, Yun-Zhao, Cui, Xiao-Bin, Hu, Jian-Ming, Zhang, Wen Jie, Li, Shu-Gang, Yang, Lan, Shen, Xi-Hua, Liu, Chun-Xia, Pan, Qing-Fang, Yu, Shi-Ying, Yuan, Xiang-Lin, Yang, Lei, Gu, Wen-Yi, Chen, Jie-Zhong, Wang, Li-Dong and Li, Feng (2013). Overexpression of PLCE1 in Kazakh esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: implications in cancer metastasis and aggressiveness. Apmis, 121 (10), 908-918. doi: 10.1111/apm.12095

Overexpression of PLCE1 in Kazakh esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: implications in cancer metastasis and aggressiveness

2013

Journal Article

Polymer nanocarrier system for endosome escape and timed release of siRNA with complete gene silencing and cell death in cancer cells

Gu, Wenyi, Jia, Zhongfan, Truong, Nghia P., Prasadam, Indira, Xiao, Yin and Monteiro, Michael J. (2013). Polymer nanocarrier system for endosome escape and timed release of siRNA with complete gene silencing and cell death in cancer cells. Biomacromolecules, 14 (10), 3386-3389. doi: 10.1021/bm401139e

Polymer nanocarrier system for endosome escape and timed release of siRNA with complete gene silencing and cell death in cancer cells

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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communications@uq.edu.au