School of Medicine
Showing 1-9 of 9 Results
-
Yunkyeong Lee
Postdoctoral Scholar, Endocrinology and Metabolism
BioYun is a postdoctoral research scholar in the Translational Genomics of Diabetes Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Anna Gloyn. Since joining the lab in August 2022, she has been investigating type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptible genes and their molecular mechanisms in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and the development of T2D. Her primary focus is on how T2D effector transcripts alter autophagy/mitophagy pathways in human pancreatic β-cells, contributing to β-cell failure, mitochondrial dysfunction, and T2D pathology. She also investigated the impact of genetic mutations underlying neonatal diabetes using CRISPR HDR knockin genome editing in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models and their derivatives.
During her PhD, she explored the role of an epigenetic regulator and its molecular machinery in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now termed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In parallel, she studied the interplay between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated unfolded protein response (UPR) signalling and autophagy, and examined how these processes are modulated by bioactive plant extracts in various cellular contexts.
She is particularly interested in exploring inter-organ communication, such as pancreas-liver-heart crosstalk, and how these interactions influence systemic metabolism and contribute to the onset and progression of T2D, along with its complications. Her long-term research goal is to advance our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving T2D and to identify novel therapeutic targets and strategies. -
Lu Zhang
Postdoctoral Scholar, Endocrinology and Metabolism
BioLu is a postdoctoral research scholar in Dr. Anna Gloyn's Translational Genomics of Diabetes Lab. During her master's and doctoral studies, she focused on epigenomics and single-cell multi-omics analysis, with an emphasis on 3D genomics. Her research included developing Hi-Tag, a chromatin conformation capture technique designed for use with small cell samples. This method provides valuable insights into the organization of chromatin in the cell. She has built strong expertise in combining different types of biological data, including RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, chromatin interaction data, and single-cell data. She has contributed to several research projects as a co-author, including studies that used genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and GTEX data to connect multi-omics data with functional genomics. These experiences have helped her gain a deep understanding of how to integrate different types of genomic data to solve complex biological problems. Currently, Lu is focused on applying her research skills to diabetes.
-
Yanxian Zhang
Postdoctoral Scholar, Endocrinology and Metabolism
BioThrough my academic training and research experience, I have cultivated a strong foundation in engineering and molecular biology. My work involves integrating diverse concepts from disciplines such as chemical engineering, protein engineering, supramolecular chemistry, and biophysics to address complex biomedical challenges. As a graduate student with Dr. Jie Zheng, my research focused on both natural and synthetic macromolecules. My research involved utilizing polymer chemistry to design biocompatible multifunctional hydrogels, as well as investigating the thermodynamics of amyloid proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Leveraging my expertise in thermodynamics and supramolecular chemistry, I contributed to the study of understanding protein misfolding and aggregation. I identified sequence-independent inhibitors to prevent protein misfolding and developed a rational strategy for inhibitor design, enabling cross-interaction activity and the fluorescent detection of amyloids. Driven by a strong interest in translational research, I pursued postdoctoral training here at Stanford School of Medicine. In Dr. Danny Hung-Chieh Chou's lab at Stanford University, I received comprehensive training in peptide engineering and molecular biology. I am dedicated to addressing formulation challenges for insulin with stable ultra-concentrated and ultra-fast properties, aimed at miniaturizing insulin pumps and advancing the next-generation of insulin automatic delivery systems. This work is supported by the JDRF postdoctoral fellowship. Furthermore, I am working on therapeutics development and have successfully developed an insulin derivative that acts as a full insulin receptor antagonist. This development holds promise as a candidate for treating the rare disease of hyperinsulinism. Throughout my postdoctoral training, I have gained proficiency in grant writing, public speaking, and mentoring students. These experiences have significantly strengthened my skills as an independent investigator. Looking forward, my research goal is to develop innovative strategies that support the functionality and delivery of biological therapies.
