Prof. YU Qiang received his undergraduate degree from Fudan University in 1982, Ph.D. in Biology from Brandeis University, USA in 1989, and postdoctoral fellow training at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was an Assistant Professor at Boston University Medical School in 1992, and subsequently became an Associate Professor of the Department of Medicine and Biochemistry. He joined the Pharmacology Department of Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica in 2002 and was appointed asa professor of Pharmacology. Prof. Yu's major research interests are understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer and inflammation, identifying novel drug targets and compounds and developing novel anti-cancer and anti-inflammationdrugs. He is also interested in understanding the mechanisms of the Traditional Chinese Medicine. Prof. Yu has published more than 70 research papers in top international journals, including Nature, Science, and PNAS, and more than 20 patents.
EDUCATION
2/1/1978-1/30/1982, Undergraduate study, Fudan University Shanghai, China, Major in Biochemistry B.S.
9/1/1983-6/30/1989, Graduate study, Department of Biology Brandeis University, Advisor: Dr. Michael Rosbash, Ph.D. in Biology
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING
9/1/1989-6/30/1992, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research MIT Cambridge, MA Advisor: Dr. Robert A. Weinberg C
WORK EXPERIENCE
11/1/2002-Present, Professor, Shanghai Institute of Meteria Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences
1/1/2000－10/31/2002, Associate Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry Boston University Medical Center
7/1/1992- 12/31/1999, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry Boston University Medical Center
Research Directions
Prof. Yu's lab is interested in understanding the cellular signaling pathways that regulate cancer and inflammation, particularly the receptor tyrosine kinases-mediated signaling pathways and the JAK/STAT signaling pathways, and in developingtherapeutic drugs that target these signaling pathways. We are also interested in using scientific methods to understand the function and mechanism of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). They have established a series of the cell signaling pathway-based assays to systematically identify biologically active components of the TCMs and to understand their molecular targets and mechanisms. The approaches they have undertaken are cellular, molecular, and chemical biology approaches. The ongoing projects in the lab include:
1. Expression, mutation, activation, function, and regulation of receptor tyrosine kinases-mediated signaling pathways in cancer cells.
2. Tyrosine kinase pathway-based personalized diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
3. Chemical and molecular biology study of the JAK/STAT signaling pathways.
4. Identification and mechanism study of natural compounds from the Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Social Titles
2007- Board Member of theShanghai Pudong Biomedical Society
2008- Associate Editor of theActaPharmacologicaSinica
2008- Editor of the China Journal of Natural Medicines
2003-2014 Board Member of the Academic Committee, Shanghai Institute of MateriaMedica
2009- Board Member of the Cancer Drug Committee, China Cancer Society
2012- Board Director of the Shanghai Cancer Drug Committee, China Pharmacology Society
Awards & Honors
1983, PBM Fellowship Award of Rochester University
1989, Postdoctoral Fellowship Award from Leukemia Society of America.
2003, Shanghai Outstanding Scholar Award
2004, Shanghai Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
Achievements
Prof. Yu's lab has taken a systematic approach to study the function and regulation of the signaling pathways and to understand the molecular mechanisms of the TCMs. They have established 9 cell signaling pathway-based assays and systematically screened 3000 extracts of commonly used TCM herbs. They have so far identified about 300 extracts affecting the signaling pathways, isolated 20 active compounds and revealed functions and mechanisms of 9 of the compounds. These studies shade lights on the understanding of the TCMs and also lead to the discoveries of new mechanisms regulating the signaling pathways. The results of these studies will guide us to develop novel mechanism-based and quality-controlled TCMs as well as single compound drugs. Prof. Yu has published 71 peer-reviewed papers in international journals, including Nature, Science, PNAS, Cancer Research, and Oncogene. These studies are summarized below:
1. Establishment of a biological activity database of the TCM extracts
2. Identification of 17-hydroxy-jolkinolide B as an irreversible inhibitor of JAK2 and an tumor cell apoptosis inducer
3. Identification of a natural compound, wedelolactone, as a STAT1 enhancer and a tyrosine phosphatase as a new drug target
4. Discovery of the regulation of JAK/STAT signaling by actin and focal adhesion through a natural compound cucurbitacin
5. Understanding the mechanism of toxicity of Triptolide
6. Identification of mitosis inhibitors that do not target tubuli
