Shi-Yuan Cheng

Shi-Yuan Cheng, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Neurology (Neuro-oncology) at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. He leads research on adult and pediatric brain tumors with a focus on tumor initiation and progression, tumor microenvironment, molecular biology including RNA biology, and development of novel therapies. His laboratory is part of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics.

Education:

• BS: Wuhan University (1982)
• PhD: Ohio State University (1992)
• Postdoctoral Fellow: University of California, San Diego, Signal transduction and Tumor Biology, Angiogenesis (1999)

Dr. Cheng's research spans multiple aspects of brain tumor biology, with particular emphasis on RNA biology and its implications for glioblastoma. His laboratory investigates cancer stem cell biology, cellular signaling pathways, RNA alternative splicing mechanisms, and therapy responses in human brain tumors. Through innovative approaches including computational methods, molecular and cellular biology techniques, tumor xenograft models, human iPSC-derived glioma models, and 3D tumor organoid systems, his team aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. His work has significant translational implications for developing novel therapeutic approaches for brain tumors.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on novel therapeutic targets for brain tumors, particularly examining RNA biology, tumor microenvironment interactions, and mechanisms of therapy resistance. The research spans from basic molecular mechanisms to translational applications, with several studies identifying potential new targets for glioblastoma treatment through RNA splicing events, non-coding RNAs, and protein modifications.

Scientific Awards:

• AAAS Fellow, American Association of Advanced Sciences (2020)
• Zell Scholar, Zell Family Foundation (2012)
• Scholar Award for Innovative Research, The Hillman Foundation (2012, 2011)
• Distinguished Lecture Series, The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center (2011)
• Research Scholar Award, American Cancer Society (2004)
• Wang Kuan-Cheng Award for Outstanding Oversea Scholar, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2002)
• Kimmel Scholar Award, Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research (2001)

Dr. Cheng leads an active research laboratory with multiple postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and students. His team has received significant funding including a DoD PRCRP Career Development Award and NIH K99 Scholar Award for members of his lab. He serves as Associate Editor for Genes & Diseases and on editorial boards of several prominent journals including Cancer Communications, Journal of Neuro-Oncology, and Neuro-Oncology. His laboratory maintains strong collaborations within Northwestern and with international partners, contributing significantly to the understanding of glioblastoma biology and potential therapeutic approaches.

The Cheng laboratory operates as a highly interactive research team focused on dissecting the molecular mechanisms that lead to brain tumors. They work extensively with glioma stem-like cells, patient-derived xenograft models, and clinical tumor specimens to investigate cancer stem cell biology, cellular signaling pathways, and therapy responses. The lab has made significant contributions to understanding RNA alternative splicing, non-coding RNAs, aberrant DNA/RNA structures in therapy-resistant tumors, autophagy mechanisms, and developing approaches to overcome immunotherapy resistance in glioblastoma.