Department of Internal Medicine | Wake Forest University School of Medicine | United States
Dr. Chia-Chi Chuang Key, Ph.D., is an accomplished Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. With a focus on Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Immunologic Diseases, Dr. Key has contributed significantly to translational research and metabolic science, paving the way for innovative treatments in lipid metabolism and obesity-related disorders.
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Strengths for the Awards
- Academic Background and Career Progression:
Dr. Key holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition, coupled with postdoctoral training in lipid sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Her career trajectory includes roles such as instructor, tenure-track assistant professor, and a research-track assistant professor, demonstrating sustained academic growth.
- Research Contributions:
Dr. Key’s work focuses on crucial topics such as lipid metabolism, inflammation, and diabetes, with significant findings published in high-impact journals (e.g., Journal of Lipid Research, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition). Her research has practical implications for understanding metabolic disorders and improving public health.
- Funding and Grants:
She has secured competitive research grants, including a Department of Defense (DOD) grant on CRISPR-based adipose therapeutics and an NIH SPLENDOR-NC Pilot Grant. Her involvement as a co-investigator in R01 studies highlights her collaborative research efforts.
- Recognition and Awards:
Dr. Key’s accolades, such as the Research Excellence Award (2020, 2021), Translational Research Academy Scholar (2022), and SPLENDOR-NC Scholar (2023), reflect her contributions and recognition within her field.
Education 🎓
Dr. Key began her academic journey at Taipei Medical University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology (2003). She then obtained a Master’s degree in Toxicology from the National Taiwan University College of Medicine (2005). She furthered her education with a Ph.D. in Nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2012), where her dissertation focused on the anti-inflammatory effects of grape polyphenols on human adipocytes and obese mice.
Experience đź’Ľ
Dr. Key’s professional journey includes roles as a Research Technician at the National Taiwan University and a Graduate Assistant at UNC Greensboro. She later joined Wake Forest University School of Medicine, transitioning from Instructor to Assistant Professor, contributing to both molecular medicine and translational science. She also served as Core Director of the Metabolic Phenotyping Shared Resource (2021–2024), showcasing her leadership and expertise in metabolic research.
Dr. Key’s research is centered on lipid metabolism, obesity-related diseases, and translational approaches to improving metabolic health. Her investigations delve into the mechanisms of lipid transport and the role of adipose tissue in metabolic disorders, exploring therapeutic potentials in Type 2 Diabetes and obesity.
Awards 🏆
Dr. Key’s excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Graduate Student of the Year Award (2012), the Research Excellence Award from Wake Forest University School of Medicine (2020, 2021), and her recognition as a Translational Research Academy Scholar (2022). Her work has also earned her travel stipends and acknowledgment for outstanding scientific publications.
Publications đź“š
- Saturated fatty acid-mediated inflammation and insulin resistance in adipose tissue: mechanisms of action and implications
- Authors: A. Kennedy, K. Martinez, C.C. Chuang, K. LaPoint, M. McIntosh
- Year: 2009
- Citations: 651
- An abundant dysfunctional apolipoprotein A1 in human atheroma
- Authors: Y. Huang, J.A. DiDonato, B.S. Levison, D. Schmitt, L. Li, Y. Wu, J. Buffa, T. Kim, …
- Year: 2014
- Citations: 422
- Potential mechanisms by which polyphenol-rich grapes prevent obesity-mediated inflammation and metabolic diseases
- Authors: C.C. Chuang, M.K. McIntosh
- Year: 2011
- Citations: 291
- Quercetin is equally or more effective than resveratrol in attenuating tumor necrosis factor-α–mediated inflammation and insulin resistance in primary human adipocytes
- Authors: C.C. Chuang, K. Martinez, G. Xie, A. Kennedy, A. Bumrungpert, A. Overman, …
- Year: 2010
- Citations: 279
- A polyphenol-rich fraction obtained from table grapes decreases adiposity, insulin resistance and markers of inflammation and impacts gut microbiota in high-fat-fed mice
- Authors: B. Collins, J. Hoffman, K. Martinez, M. Grace, M.A. Lila, C. Cockrell, …
- Year: 2016
- Citations: 133
- Hyperglycemia enhances adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation: involvement of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, and …
- Authors: C.C. Chuang, R.S. Yang, K.S. Tsai, F.M. Ho, S.H. Liu
- Year: 2007
- Citations: 115
- Xanthones from mangosteen inhibit inflammation in human macrophages and in human adipocytes exposed to macrophage-conditioned media
- Authors: A. Bumrungpert, R.W. Kalpravidh, C.C. Chuang, A. Overman, K. Martinez, …
- Year: 2010
- Citations: 113
- Alterations of a cellular cholesterol metabolism network are a molecular feature of obesity-related type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
- Authors: J. Ding, L.M. Reynolds, T. Zeller, C. MĂĽller, K. Lohman, B.J. Nicklas, …
- Year: 2015
- Citations: 109
- Table grape consumption reduces adiposity and markers of hepatic lipogenesis and alters gut microbiota in butter fat-fed mice
- Authors: J. Baldwin, B. Collins, P.G. Wolf, K. Martinez, W. Shen, C.C. Chuang, W. Zhong, …
- Year: 2016
- Citations: 107
- Conjugated linoleic acid reduces adiposity and increases markers of browning and inflammation in white adipose tissue of mice [S]
- Authors: W. Shen, C.C. Chuang, K. Martinez, T. Reid, J.M. Brown, L. Xi, L. Hixson, …
- Year: 2013
- Citations: 106
Conclusion
Dr. Chia-Chi Chuang Key exemplifies a commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and clinical applications in metabolic health. Through her leadership, research, and teaching, she continues to inspire progress in understanding and treating complex metabolic disorders.
