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
Projects
- 5 Finished
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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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Adaptation to cystine limitation stress confers a targetable lipid metabolism vulnerability in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Li, Y., Li, Z., Li, Q., Sun, D., Ni, B., Tan, M., Shay, A. E., Wang, M., Meng, C., Shen, G., Fu, B., Shan, Y., Zhang, S., Tanshee, R. R., Zhou, T., Xie, Y., Chen, K. M., Qiao, B., Dang, Y. & Kimball, S. R. & 6 others, , Dec 2026, In: Nature communications. 17, 1, 1343.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
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 -
Engineering bacterial biocatalysts via directed evolution to deprive cancer cells of cyst(e)ine
Li, Y., Li, Q., Tan, M. & Yang, S., Jan 19 2026, In: Innovation Life. 4, 1, 100189.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Open Access -
FSCN1-mediated hepatic gluconeogenesis is indispensable for neonatal mice survival
Liu, X., Hu, Y., Wu, L., Zhang, Y., Sang, L., Gao, Y., He, L., Xiong, W., Yang, S. & Sun, J., Mar 1 2026, In: Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica. 58, 3, p. 584-594 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Drives Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer via Glutathione-Mediated Stemness Maintenance
Li, Z., Meng, C., Shen, G., Shan, Y., Wang, J., Abudukeremu, D., Zhao, R., Ni, B., Xu, C., Guo, X., Yu, J., Wang, K., Yang, S., Li, Y. Z., Xie, Y., Zhou, T., Hao, J. & Wang, X., Mar 23 2026, In: Advanced Science. 13, 17, e07346.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access3 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations