RESEARCH

Research Projects:

1. N-Glycosylation engineering of plants to produce cytoprotective asialoerythropoietin (asialo-EPO)

2. Studying neuroprotection and cardioprotection of plant-produced asialo-EPO in cell and animal models

3. Using a plant-based mutant huntingtin model to study polyQ induced pathological changes

4. Using variegated 'Pothos' (Epipremnum aureum) plants to study chloroplast biogenesis and communication between disease-cells and normal cells

Ongoing and Completed Research Support:

NIH-NIGMS-SC1 grant: In Vivo Neuroprotective and Pharmacological Studies of Plant-produced Asialo-erythropoietin. 01/01/2017 - 04/30/2025. $2,920,000. Role: PI.  

The University of North Carolina system Research Opportunities Initiative (ROI) Award: Bioengineering microalgae for large-scale production of therapeutic antibodies against Ebola, West Nile virus and rabies. 07/01/2015 - 06/30/2018. $150,000 to Xie’s lab. Role: Co-PI (PI: Leung).

NSF-HRD grant: Establishment of Pale Yellow ‘Golden Pothos’ Transgenic Plants for Studying Nuclear-Encoded Plastid Proteins Involved in Chloroplast Biogenesis. 12/15/2014 - 11/30/2016.  $194,651 (transferred to Dr. C Oldham in May, 2016). Role: PI.  

North Carolina Biotechnology Center 2013-BRG-1207 grant: Glycoengineering of Sialylation Pathway in Tobacco Plants for Expressing Humanized Recombinant Glycoproteins.  08/01/2013 - 11/31/2015. $99,560.  Role: PI. 

NIH-NIGMS-MBRS-SC3 grant:  Plant-produced asialo-erythropoietin and its antiapoptotic functions. 09/01/2009 – 08/31/2014. $419,250. Role: PI. 

USDA NRI Plant Biology: Biochemistry Program grant:  Isolation and characterization of genes involved in Se-accumulation from Se-hyperaccumulating plants. 12/01/2008 – 05/31/2011. $76,047. Role: PI.

North Carolina Biotechnology Center 2007-BRG-1223 grant: Identification and characterization of Se-accumulating genes in plant. 08/01/2007 – 09/30/2009. $75,000. Role: PI.