Zeng-jie Yang

Zeng-jie Yang, MD, PhD, is a Professor at the Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program within the Fox Chase Cancer Center, part of Temple University Health System. His primary research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying pediatric brain tumors, particularly medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma, with a focus on epigenetic regulation, tumor microenvironment interactions, and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Yang's education includes a Medical Degree from unknown institution, a PhD in Neurogenetics from the University of Nottingham (2005), and a Master's in Genetics from Fudan University Medical Center (2000). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Biology at Duke University Medical Center (2005–2010).

Research Interests:

• Molecular mechanisms in neuronal progenitor differentiation and cerebellar development
• Epigenetic and genetic drivers of medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma progression
• Role of tumor microenvironment and stromal interactions in brain tumor growth
• Development of differentiation therapy for pediatric brain tumors

Awards & Recognition:

• 2023 European Patent Office Award for Exosome Analysis and Brain Tumors

Advising & Team:

• Current advisees include Tamara Kirukhina, Elvina Shagieva, and Kallie Dalton
• Laboratory team includes senior researchers like Yijun Yang and Ping Feng Zhang

Lab Focus: The Yang Lab investigates innovative treatments targeting tumor cell differentiation, epigenetic modifiers, and tumor microenvironment modulation. Current projects explore thyroid hormone-induced differentiation therapy and cholesterol biosynthesis as therapeutic targets.