Brief Biography
Jan/2023 - now: Principal Investigator, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS. Shanghai, China
Oct/2017 - Jan/2023: Postdoc Fellow, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Boston, MA, USA
Aug/2015 - Sep/2017: Research Associate, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS. Shanghai, China
Sep/2008 - Jul/2015: Ph.D, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS. Shanghai, China
Sep/2004 - Jul/2008: B.S, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, Hubei province, China
Research Focus
Our laboratory aims to investigate immunomodulators produced by apoptotic cells (collectively termed IPACs), with a focus on extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). We integrate biochemical, molecular, multi-omics, and systems biology approaches to address two key objectives:
1. Elucidate the pathophysiological roles of eccDNAs in vivo.
2. Identify and characterize novel IPACs, decode their biogenesis mechanisms, and explore their potential for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
Scientific Premise
Immune homeostasis relies on a balance between suppressive and activating signals. Disruptions to this equilibrium may lead to hyperinflammatory disorders (e.g., cytokine storms, autoimmune diseases) or immunodeficiency states (e.g., tumor immune evasion). While apoptotic cells are known to release both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive components, the context-dependent duality of these effects remains poorly understood.
Technical Innovation
We pioneer methodologies for:
● Tracking eccDNA dynamics through advanced imaging and quantitative analysis.
● Systematically identifying IPACs via novel integrated multi-omics profiling.
Postdoctoral positions are currently available, please email Professor Wang (ygwang@sinh.ac.cn) including your CV, brief statement of research interests and names of 2-3 referees.
Selected Publications: (#The first author, *Corresponding)
- Wang Y#, Wang M, Zhang Y*. Purification, full-length sequencing, and genomic origin mapping of eccDNA. Nature Protocol 2023 Mar;18(3):683-699.
- Wang Y#, Wang M, Djekidel MN, Chen H, Liu D, Alt FW, Zhang Y*. eccDNAs are apoptotic products with high innate immunostimulatory activity. Nature 2021 Nov;599(7884):308-314.
- Wang Y#, Hu Y, Sun C, Zhuo S, He Z, Wang H, Yan M, Liu J, Luan Y, Dai C, Yang Y, Huang R, Zhou B, Zhang F, Zhai Q*. Down-regulation of Risa improves insulin sensitivity by enhancing autophagy. FASEB J 2016 Sep;30(9):3133-3145.