Biography
Yi-Lin Yang, Ph.D. was an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Surgery at UCSF and a member of the Thoracic Oncology Laboratory at UCSF until 2018. She received her Ph.D. degree in Comparative Biomedical Sciences from Tufts University in 2010 and her M.S. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Oregon Health & Science University in 2004. Upon the completion of her post-doctoral training in San Francisco VA Medical Center, Dr. Yang joined the Thoracic Oncology Laboratory of UCSF in 2012.
Education
Kaohsiung Medical University, Biology, B.S., 2001
Oregon Health and Science University, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, M.S., 2004
Tufts University, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Ph.D., 2010
San Francisco VA Medical Center, NCIRE, Post-doctoral Training, 2012
Research Narrative
Dr. Yang's research focused on understanding the biological and molecular mechanisms in human lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Her studies have shown the significance of Wnt2 and Notch1 signaling in human lung cancer and in human malignant pleural mesothelioma, and blocking the signaling inhibits tumor growth. She has also established a transgenic mouse model of mesothelioma, an orthotropic malignant mesothelioma model, and brain metastasis models of human lung cancer. These animal models are useful tools for testing potential therapies in human lung cancer and mesothelioma, including immunotherapy.
Research Interests
Identification of cancer-specific biomarkers
Mechanisms drive cancer metastasis
Development of early diagnosis strategy for human cancers