معرفی
Yicheng Long is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he leads the Long Lab within the Graduate School of Medical Sciences. His research lies at the intersection of epigenetics, RNA biology, and developmental biology, with a focus on cardiac differentiation using human stem cell models. He is affiliated with the Cell & Developmental Biology and Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology PhD programs.
Dr. Long obtained his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Tsinghua University and earned his PhD at Ohio State University under Jane Jackman, studying RNA repair in Dictyostelium and budding yeast. He then conducted postdoctoral research with Nobel Laureate Tom Cech at the University of Colorado Boulder, focusing on RNA-protein interactions in epigenetic repression. He established his independent laboratory at Weill Cornell in August 2021.
His research investigates how macromolecular interactions—particularly protein-DNA, protein-RNA, and RNA-DNA—regulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of H3K27me3, a critical histone mark for gene silencing during development. Using innovative CRISPR tools, high-throughput genomics, and biochemical assays, his lab aims to uncover the mechanisms by which epigenetic 'writer' and 'eraser' complexes achieve specificity, with implications for congenital heart disease and epigenetic therapy. The lab is also developing locus-specific epigenome editing tools for potential therapeutic correction of gene expression.
The recent publications from the lab, including a paper accepted in Molecular Cell, reflect a strong trend in understanding chromatin regulation through nucleic acid-protein interactions, particularly in stem cell and cardiac contexts. The work integrates mechanistic biochemistry with functional genomics to dissect epigenetic control in development.
Dr. Long has received several prestigious awards and grants, including:
- American Heart Association Career Development Award (2022)
- NIH Pathway to Independence Award (2020)
- NIGMS R35 MIRA Grant (2024)
- Tri-Institutional Stem Cell Initiative Grant (2023)
He actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including PhD candidates from the BCMB and Tri-Institutional MD-PhD programs. His lab has attracted funding from major sources such as the NIH and AHA, supporting interdisciplinary research at the Weill Cornell Cardiovascular Research Institute. The Long Lab fosters collaborations, as evidenced by joint grants and co-authored publications with researchers at Sloan Kettering and beyond.
The lab is embedded in the Cardiovascular Research Institute and maintains strong ties with the broader Tri-Institutional community, participating in symposia and collaborative retreats. It hosts trainees from diverse backgrounds, including medical students and undergraduates, and is actively expanding its research capacity and scientific impact.
