Dr. Qu's research interests include the genetic analysis of human complex diseases (e.g., diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and tuberculosis), the clinical translation of genetic findings, and the development of disease risk markers. Working with Dr. Constantin Polychronakos at the McGill University Health Centre (2003-2010), his work led to the physical and functional identification of a number of Type 1 Diabetes loci, and discovered a key gene in the development of the endocrine pancreas. They developed a novel high throughput method to discover genetic effects on gene translation. Dr. Qu joined the UTSPH in 2010. His recent study provides significant insight of insulin resistance related disorders in the Mexican American population.