Personal profile
Research interests
The long-term research interest in Dr. Shengyu Yang’s lab is to understand the mechanisms underlying cancer metastasis and developing novel therapeutic strategies in the prevention and treatment of cancer metastasis.
The research in the lab currently focus on two areas related to mitochondrial signaling and metabolism in cancer metastasis.
The first area of research effort is to understand how the actin cytoskeleton remodeling in lung adenocarcinoma promotes metastatic colonization by controlling mitochondrial DNA homeostasis and augmenting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The second area of research effort is to understand the role of mitochondrial calcium signaling in the control of metabolic stress resistance by activating the Keap1-Nrf2 antioxidant response program in metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Teaching and educational interests
Dr. Shengyu Yang is co-directing a new course for medical students at Penn State College of Medicine, Mitochondria in Physiology and Diseases, with Dr. Katherine Aird.
Dr. Yang also lectures on receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, cancer metastasis and mitochondrial dynamics to graduate students.
Education/Academic qualification
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Weill Cornell Medical College
… → 2010
Biophysics, PhD, Chinese Academy of Science
… → 2001
BS, Xiamen University
… → 1996
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Regulation of mitochondrial DNA homeostasis and neuroinflammation by Fascin in Alzheimer’s Disease
Ma, Y. Y. C. (PI), Yang, S. (CoPI) & Zhu, X. (CoPI)
6/1/25 → 5/31/26
Project: Research project
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Administrative supplement to Regulation of mitochondrial DNA homeostasis and neuroinflammation by Fascin
Ma, Y. Y. C. (PI), Yang, S. (CoPI) & Zhu, X. (CoPI)
6/1/22 → 5/31/25
Project: Research project
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Mitochondrial calcium signaling in pancreatic cancer metastasis and progression
Yang, S. (PI) & Singh, P. P. K. (CoPI)
3/1/22 → 2/28/26
Project: Research project
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Store-operated calcium entry in tumor invasion and metastasis
Yang, S. (PI)
12/3/13 → 11/30/19
Project: Research project
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Coenzyme A mitigates cystine-deprivation-induced ferroptosis by suppressing the iron-starvation response
Tan, M., Li, Y., Sang, L., Wang, M., Li, Q., Li, Z., Sun, D., Wang, X. & Yang, S., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: FEBS Journal.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Retraction Note: BICC1 drives pancreatic cancer progression by inducing VEGF-independent angiogenesis(Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 10.1038/s41392-023-01478-5)
Huang, C., Li, H., Xu, Y., Xu, C., Sun, H., Li, Z., Ge, Y., Wang, H., Zhao, T., Gao, S., Wang, X., Yang, S., Sun, P., Liu, Z., Liu, J., Chang, A. & Hao, J., Dec 2026, In: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 11, 1, 4.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Open Access -
CLT-003 exerts anti-tumor activity in pancreatic cancer by blocking the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway
Xu, C., Li, Z., Shan, Y., She, C., Yang, Y., Zhou, T., Xie, Y., Ni, B., Meng, C., Shen, G., Fu, B., Sheng, G., Wu, L., Pei, J., Zhao, T., Gao, S., Wang, H., Deng, C., Wang, K. & Chang, A. & 6 others, , Sep 30 2025, In: Cancer Biology and Medicine. 22, 12Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Endothelial-like cancer-associated fibroblasts facilitate pancreatic cancer metastasis via vasculogenic mimicry and paracrine signalling
Sun, X., Cai, W., Li, H., Gao, C., Ma, X., Guo, Y., Fu, D., Xiao, D., Zhang, Z., Wang, Y., Yang, S., Feng, Y., Zhao, T. & Hao, J., Sep 1 2025, In: Gut. 74, 9, p. 1437-1451 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
12 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
BICC1 drives pancreatic cancer stemness and chemoresistance by facilitating tryptophan metabolism
Sun, H., Li, H., Guan, Y., Yuan, Y., Xu, C., Fu, D., Xie, P., Li, J., Zhao, T., Wang, X., Feng, Y., Wang, H., Gao, S., Yang, S., Shi, Y., Liu, J., Chang, A., Huang, C. & Hao, J., Jun 2024, In: Science Advances. 10, 25, eadj8650.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access24 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations