My core research interest lies at the intersection of aging, lipid metabolism, and the endocrine function of adipose tissue. I am particularly fascinated by how specific metabolic hubs—such as adipocytes—coordinate the evolutionary trade-off between energy expenditure (like reproduction) and longevity. Inspired by recent discoveries in the caste-switching ants, my focus centers on the tissue-specific bifurcation of the insulin signaling pathway.

Research has shown that the insect fat body (the functional analog to mammalian liver and adipose tissue) can simultaneously upregulate lipid synthesis for reproduction via the MAPK pathway, while suppressing the senescence-driving AKT/FOXO pathway via target-specific anti-insulins (like Imp-L2). This remarkable biological phenomenon offers a novel model for aging research.