“Dr. Charles (Chiwei) Xu obtained his bachelor’s degree from Fudan University (2011) and PhD in Developmental and Regenerative Biology from Harvard University (2019). His PhD work in Professor Norbert Perrimon’s lab focused on the genetically versatile Drosophila midgut epithelium system. He performed an in vivo RNAi screen and characterized a number of top candidates, which elucidates how intestinal stem cells communicate with the microenvironment and unveils novel mechanisms coupling the physiological function, organelle integrity and tissue homeostasis in the midgut. Notably, his findings on PXo bodies, a previously uncharacterized type of phosphate-sensing organelle (Xu, Xu, et al., Nature, 2023), elucidated a pivotal connection between phosphate homeostasis and tissue homeostasis, and paved a new research direction at the intersection of organelle biology, cell signaling, and metabolism. His research discoveries have been featured by worldwide media including Nature News, MIT Tech Review, Live Science, Freethink, and the Scientist. For his postdoctoral training, Dr. Xu sought to explore inter-tissue communication on a broader scale, focusing on the more complex organ system of mouse skin. In Professor Elaine Fuchs’ lab, he initiated a new research direction investigating the interactions between epithelial stem cells and the peripheral nervous system. He intends to establish an independent research group that investigates how animals sense and adapt to their environment at cellular, tissue, and organismal levels. Dr. Xu is a recipient of Shanghai Scholarship (2008), National Scholarship of China (2009), DuPont Scholarship (2010), Fudan 78’23” Alumni Life Sciences Scholarship (2011), C.H. Li memorial fellowship award (2019), National Cancer Center postdoctoral fellowship (2021), Charles Revson postdoctoral fellowship (2021-2023), the Leo Foundation Research Grant (2023), 1st Runner-up of Drosophila Image Award (2024). Dr. Xu has a demonstrated decade-long record of academic leadership. He was the founder and main organizer of the Life Forum Lecture Series at Fudan University; an organizer of the faculty seminar series at Harvard BBS program and President of the Chinese Biomedical Student Organization at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Xu has established and is currently the lead organizer of the Historical Reading of Great Discovery (HRGD) journal club, the largest trainee-initiated academic event at Rockefeller. Dr. Xu is a fervent advocate for curiosity-driven research and open science.”
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