Iwei Yeh

Iwei Yeh is a Professor of Dermatopathology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. With a PhD in Biomedical Informatics, Dr. Yeh maintains an active academic clinical dermatopathology practice specializing in the diagnosis of melanocytic tumors and leads a basic and translational research laboratory focused on the genetics and biology of these tumors and the use of molecular assessments to improve diagnosis.

Dr. Yeh's educational background includes:

• Harvard College, AB 1994-1997, Biochemical Sciences
• Stanford University Medical School, MD, PhD 1998-2006, Medicine and Biomedical Informatics
• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, 2006-2007, Internship
• University of Washington, 2007-2010, Dermatology Residency
• University of California, San Francisco, 2010-2011, Dermatopathology Fellowship

Dr. Yeh's research program centers on identifying and characterizing novel oncogenes and tumor suppressors in melanocytic neoplasia. The laboratory employs a multi-disciplinary approach spanning from basic science investigations of tumor biology to translational applications in clinical diagnostics. Recent work has focused on gene fusions (particularly involving BRAF and protein kinase C), somatic mutations distinguishing melanocyte subpopulations, and the genetic evolution of acral melanoma. This research has led to paradigm shifts in understanding conditions like BAP1-inactivated melanocytoma.

Analysis of Dr. Yeh's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the molecular characterization of melanocytic tumors, with particular attention to genetic drivers, diagnostic challenges, and translational applications. The work spans basic science (investigating cellular senescence mechanisms), technical development (STmut framework for spatial transcriptomics), and clinical applications (improving diagnostic accuracy through next-generation sequencing).

Dr. Yeh has received numerous prestigious scientific awards:

• Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard College Chapter (1997)
• Medical Scientist Training Program Predoctoral Fellowship, NIH (1998)
• Graduate Fellowship, National Library of Medicine (2003)
• Doctoral Commencement Speaker, Stanford Medical School (2006)
• American Cancer Society Individual Research Award (2014)
• Melanoma Research Alliance Career Development Award (2014)
• Dermatology Foundation Career Development Award (2014)
• Melanoma Research Foundation Mucosal Melanoma Career Development Award (2020)
• Stiefel Scholar Award in Skin Cancer

Dr. Yeh leads a multi-disciplinary research team that has secured significant grant funding through prestigious awards including multiple career development awards from major cancer research organizations. The laboratory collaborates extensively with researchers at UCSF and internationally to advance understanding of melanocytic neoplasia. Dr. Yeh is also actively involved in clinical dermatopathology, providing expert diagnosis for challenging melanocytic tumors, which directly informs the research program.

The Yeh laboratory is a collaborative environment that brings together pathologists, geneticists, bioinformaticians, and clinicians to investigate the molecular basis of melanocytic tumors. The team has established significant collaborations with institutions worldwide and contributes to professional organizations including the Children's Oncology Group and the Melanoma Research Foundation.