Xiaoyu Su, Ph.D., is a researcher at the University of Chicago Medicine, where he conducts research to advance the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea, a potentially serious sleep disorder that can lead to death.
Approximately, 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a critical disorder that is characterized by episodic sleep state-dependent collapse of the upper airway, resulting in periodic reductions or cessations in ventilation, with consequent hypoxia, hypercapnia, or arousals from sleep. Su’s current research focuses on studying systemic and cellular responses to chronic intermittent hypoxia. In the long term, he hopes to identify sleep disorders and their prevention using functional foods.
Su has a history of working to cure diseases with functional food through his research. His previously developed methods using special HPLC-MS methods enabled him to identify and quantify the antioxidant compounds in foods that provide anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer health benefits. Using his novel methods and techniques, he has and will continue to make exceptional contributions in making medical advances in areas such as sleep apnea, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
A highly productive researcher, Su has published 22 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, one book chapter, three expert peer reviews and seven abstracts in international conferences. His work has been published in prestigious journals such as Food Chemistry, Molecular Nutrition & Food Research and Cancer Prevention Research and his work has been cited more than 700 times by fellow researchers.
Su is a three-time K-State graduate. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology and his master’s and doctoral degrees in food science.