معرفی
Professor Alpha Yap is a Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and an Affiliate Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Queensland. His research focuses on cadherin cell adhesion molecules, epithelial morphogenesis, and tumor development. He holds a Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor (Honours) of Medicine Surgery, and a PhD from The University of Queensland, along with fellowships from the NHMRC and ARC.
His research investigates how cadherins regulate cell-cell adhesion, tissue patterning, and their dysfunction in cancer progression. Key areas include E-cadherin signaling, actin cytoskeleton dynamics, and mechanotransduction at cell-cell junctions. Yap’s work bridges cell biology and biophysics, exploring how mechanical forces influence epithelial homeostasis and cancer development.
Notable achievements include discoveries about E-cadherin’s role as a signaling receptor and its interaction with the Arp2/3 complex. He has received extensive funding from NHMRC, ARC, and other grants, supporting projects on epithelial mechanics, tumor surveillance, and caveolae-mediated signaling. His lab collaborates across disciplines, integrating live imaging, mathematical modeling, and genetic tools.
- Education:
- Bachelor of Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Medicine Surgery, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Awards:
- ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship (2024–2028)
- NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship
- Human Frontier Science Program Grant
- Grants:
- Epithelial Surveillance against apoptosis (NHMRC IDEAS Grant)
- Forces in Nature: Tissue mechanics and cell sociology (ARC)
Yap’s research has produced over 200 journal articles, focusing on mechanobiology, epithelial repair, and cancer biology. His lab is available for supervision, with current projects addressing tissue hypertension in epithelia and oncogenic cell extrusion mechanisms.
