Summary
Dr. Wei Cui had her pre-medical training at the Peking University and obtained her medical degree from the Peking Union Medical College, China. She was then awarded the China-British Council Technical Co-operation Scholarship to undertake her PhD at the University of London, UK. She has extensive experience in cell biology, molecular biology and transgenic animals. She currently leads the Stem Cell Differentiation group at the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology (IRDB).
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The research interest of the group is to explore the molecular mechanisms that govern the early human embryonic cell fate determination using human pluripotent stem cells as a model system and applying them to understand human embryonic development and its associated disorders and to develop human disease models.
Teaching involved
Undergraduate courses:
- MBBS/BSc modules: Reproductive and developmental science, Immunity and infectious diseases, Neuroscience.
- BSc in Faculty of Natural Sciences: Stem cells, regeneration and ageing.
Postgraduate courses:
- MSc – Reproductive and Developmental Biology; Human Molecular Genetics.
- MRes – Biomedical Research.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Xu W, Hua H, Chiu Y, et al., 2019, CD146 Regulates Growth Factor-Induced mTORC2 Activity Independent of PI3K and mTORC1 Pathways, Cell Reports, Vol:29, ISSN:2211-1247, Pages:1311-1322.E5
Cui W, Zhang S, Bell E, et al., 2019, OCT4 and PAX6 determine the dual function of SOX2 in human ESCs as a key pluripotent or neural factor, Stem Cell Research & Therapy, Vol:10, ISSN:1757-6512
Luo Y, Xu W, Li G, et al., 2018, Weighing in on mTOR complex 2 signaling: The expanding role in cell metabolism, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Vol:2018, ISSN:1942-0900
Cui W, Yu J, 2016, Proliferation, survival and metabolism: the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling in pluripotency and cell fate determination, Development, Vol:143, ISSN:0950-1991, Pages:3050-3060
Yu JS, Ramasamy TS, Murphy N, et al., 2015, PI3K/mTORC2 regulates TGF-β/Activin signalling by modulating Smad2/3 activity via linker phosphorylation, Nature Communications, Vol:6, ISSN:2041-1723