Amy Yee

Professor Amy Yee is a full Professor in the Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. She additionally holds professorial appointments at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and is a member of several Graduate Biomedical Sciences programs, including Genetics, Pharmacology, and Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology. Dr. Yee is the founder and CEO of Cha Therapeutics, a pre-seed women-owned biotech start-up.

Education

• Ph.D. – University of California, Davis, United States
• A.B. – University of California, Berkeley, United States
• Postdoctoral Fellowship – Rockefeller University, Molecular Cell Biology (with Dr. Joseph Nevins)

Research Focus

Dr. Yee’s laboratory integrates basic science discovery with translational medicine to address two major disease areas: breast cancer and genetic epilepsies. Central to her work is the HBP1 transcriptional repressor, a novel tumor-suppressor gene that modulates Wnt signaling, epigenetic reprogramming, and immune-microenvironment interactions. Her group has pioneered studies showing how HBP1 mutations drive invasive breast cancer and how therapeutic targeting of the Wnt pathway can convert “cold” tumors into “hot” ones susceptible to immune checkpoint inhibitors. In parallel, she has uncovered an unexpected role for Wnt-driven Warburg-like metabolism in epileptogenesis, with her mouse models providing the first genetic evidence linking HBP1 loss to spontaneous seizures.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• 25 Year Faculty Service Award – Tufts University (2015)
• Citation of Appreciation for Review Service – Peking University (2015)
• Memberships: American Association for Cancer Research, American Epilepsy Society, New York Academy of Sciences, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Funding & Grants

Dr. Yee has continuously secured competitive extramural funding, including awards from:

• U.S. Department of Defense (Breast Cancer Research Program & Epilepsy Research)
• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• CURE: Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (multiple cycles)
• National Cancer Institute
• American Institute for Cancer Research
• Cam Neely Foundation

Teaching & Mentorship

She is the long-time director of the graduate course Biochemistry of Gene Expression and Signal Transduction, co-director of the MBS biochemistry course, and has formally advised over 50 students toward successful matriculation into medical school and completion of advanced degrees.

Laboratory & Enterprise

The Yee laboratory at Tufts fosters a collaborative environment across cancer biology, neurogenetics, and drug discovery. Complementing her academic program, Cha Therapeutics is translating her discoveries into first-in-class therapeutics that cross the blood–brain barrier and reprogram tumor immunity, aiming for early-phase clinical trials in triple-negative breast cancer patients.