My research foci are mechano-transduction mechanisms by which cells sense and convert environmental mechanical stimuli into biological signaling and novel nanomedicine approaches that target dysregulated mechano-sensing pathways. Cellular mechanotransduction is instrumental to embryogenesis and physiological control of tissue homeostasis; abnormal cell responses to mechanical forces promote pathologies associated with numerous human diseases. This is especially important in the vasculature, where environmental mechanical stimuli produce cellular responses in endothelial cells at arterial curvatures and bifurcations by locally disturbed blood flow to induce atherosclerosis. A similar cascade appears to be induced in acute lung injury where it is the increased cyclic stretch that is the trigger. My research program at the University of Chicago focuses on the molecular understanding of endothelial homeostasis governed by mechanical forces, with emphasis upon regulation of non-coding genome, transcription factors, G protein signaling, and genetic variance. Another major research goal is to develop innovative nanomedicine-based therapeutic strategies to treat dysregulated mechano-sensing mechanisms causing vascular diseases.
Key Words: microRNA, non-coding RNA, human genetics, enhancer biology, vascular biology, nanotechnology, nanomedicine, mechanotransduction, atherosclerosis, acute lung injury
University of Pennsylvania
USA
Postdoctoral Fellow - Medicine and Engineering
2012
University of Pennsylvania
USA
PhD - Bioengineering
2006
University of Pennsylvania
USA
MS - Biotechnology
2002
National Taiwan University
Taiwan
BS - Microbiology & Plant Pathology
1999
Transcriptomic analysis of iPSC-derived endothelium reveals adaptations to high altitude hypoxia in energy metabolism and inflammation.
Transcriptomic analysis of iPSC-derived endothelium reveals adaptations to high altitude hypoxia in energy metabolism and inflammation. PLoS Genet. 2025 Feb; 21(2):e1011570.
PMID: 39928692
Navitoclax safety, tolerability, and effect on biomarkers of senescence and neurodegeneration in aged nonhuman primates.
Navitoclax safety, tolerability, and effect on biomarkers of senescence and neurodegeneration in aged nonhuman primates. Heliyon. 2024 Aug 30; 10(16):e36483.
PMID: 39253182
Mechanosensitive FHL2 tunes endothelial function.
Mechanosensitive FHL2 tunes endothelial function. bioRxiv. 2024 Jun 17.
PMID: 38948838
LDL-Binding IL-10 Reduces Vascular Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Mice.
LDL-Binding IL-10 Reduces Vascular Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Mice. bioRxiv. 2024 Mar 06.
PMID: 38496521
Mechanosensitive super-enhancers regulate genes linked to atherosclerosis in endothelial cells.
Mechanosensitive super-enhancers regulate genes linked to atherosclerosis in endothelial cells. J Cell Biol. 2024 03 04; 223(3).
PMID: 38231044
Anoctamin-1 is induced by TGF-ß and contributes to lung myofibroblast differentiation.
Anoctamin-1 is induced by TGF-ß and contributes to lung myofibroblast differentiation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2024 01 01; 326(1):L111-L123.
PMID: 38084409
Anoctamin-1 is induced by TGF-beta and contributes to lung myofibroblast differentiation.
Anoctamin-1 is induced by TGF-beta and contributes to lung myofibroblast differentiation. bioRxiv. 2023 Nov 09.
PMID: 37333255
Loss of heme oxygenase 2 causes reduced expression of genes in cardiac muscle development and contractility and leads to cardiomyopathy in mice.
Loss of heme oxygenase 2 causes reduced expression of genes in cardiac muscle development and contractility and leads to cardiomyopathy in mice. PLoS One. 2023; 18(10):e0292990.
PMID: 37844118
Endothelial FoxM1 reactivates aging-impaired endothelial regeneration for vascular repair and resolution of inflammatory lung injury.
Endothelial FoxM1 reactivates aging-impaired endothelial regeneration for vascular repair and resolution of inflammatory lung injury. Sci Transl Med. 2023 08 16; 15(709):eabm5755.
PMID: 37585502
A single-cell atlas reveals shared and distinct immune responses and metabolic profiles in SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 infections.
A single-cell atlas reveals shared and distinct immune responses and metabolic profiles in SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 infections. Front Genet. 2023; 14:1105673.
PMID: 36992700
Established Investigator Award
American Heart Association
2023
Elected Fellow
The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
2023
Elected Fellow
American Heart Association
2023
NHLBI R35 award
National Institutes of Health
2022
B. Lowell Langille Vascular Biology Lectureship
University of Toronto
2020
Young Investigator Award (First Place)
CAAC-ATVB Symposium
2019
Leif B. Sorensen Faculty Research Award
University of Chicago
2018