Hongyuan Yang

Professor Hongyuan Yang (also known as Robert Yang) is a leading academic at the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (BABS) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), with a career spanning institutions like Columbia University, Harvard University, and the National University of Singapore. His research focuses on cellular lipid transport, cholesterol homeostasis, and lipid droplet biogenesis, linking these processes to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

• Education:
  • Bachelor of Medicine, Peking University Health Science Centre (1993)
  • PhD, Columbia University (1998)

Research Interests: Yang’s work explores the molecular mechanisms governing intracellular lipid sorting, particularly cholesterol and phosphatidylserine, and their roles in lipid droplet biogenesis. His studies address challenges in labeling live-cell lipids, with implications for diseases like atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. He has identified key enzymes (e.g., sterol esterification proteins) and novel factors (e.g., seipin, ORP5/8) that regulate lipid droplet size and organelle communication.

Publications: Yang’s recent articles highlight advancements in lipid droplet formation (e.g., PI(3)P regulation, ORP5/8 mechanisms), cholesterol transport (e.g., NPC1/NPC2 structure), and phospholipid roles in membrane repair. His work intersects cell biology, biochemistry, and disease pathology, with a focus on metabolic disorders and cancer.

Scientific Awards:

• NHMRC Investigator L3 (2022-2027)
• UNSW Dean of Science Research Excellence Award (2019)
• NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship B (2014-2019)
• Inaugural ARC Future Fellowship (2010-2014)
• Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Research Excellence Young Scientist Award (2006)
• Singapore National Young Scientist Award Finalist (2005)
• NUS Technopreneurship 21 Award (2004)
• NUS Young Scientist Award (2002)

Advising & Grants: Yang supervises PhD and honors students in cell biology, lipid metabolism, and related diseases. His research is supported by major grants from NHMRC, ARC, and UNSW, with collaborations across institutions and industries.

Labs & Teams: Based at UNSW’s Kensington campus, Yang’s lab utilizes advanced infrastructure like the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre and high-performance computing systems (e.g., Katana, Gadi) to study lipid dynamics and disease mechanisms.