معرفی
Dr. Yiqiang Cai serves as an Associate Research Scientist in the Nephrology department at Yale School of Medicine. His primary research focuses on the molecular basis of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on polycystin-1 and polycystin-2 trafficking mechanisms.
Dr. Cai earned his MD equivalent from Hunan Medical University in China (1987) and his PhD from Tokushima University School of Medicine in Japan (1995). His research employs cell-based models and BAC-transgenic mouse models to investigate key questions regarding polycystin trafficking regulation, cystogenesis mechanisms, PKD gene mutations, and polycystin-2 phosphorylation.
Dr. Cai's research publications reveal a strong focus on molecular mechanisms underlying polycystic kidney disease, with recent work exploring therapeutic interventions targeting ER stress pathways, protein trafficking mechanisms, and cyst reduction strategies. His publications span high-impact journals including Science, Nature Genetics, Cell, and Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
- American Heart Association Scientist Development Award (2001-2004)
- PKD Foundation Research Grant (2005-2006)
- Multiple Travel Awards from the American Society of Nephrology
- Top 0.5% scholar worldwide ranking by ScholarGPS (2024)
- Guest Professor appointments at Southern Medical University and Central South University in China
Dr. Cai maintains active research collaborations with prominent Yale researchers including Stefan Somlo, Ke Dong, Michael Rehman, and Sorin Fedeles. His laboratory work has established significant connections between polycystin signaling pathways and kidney homeostasis, with implications for therapeutic development in ADPKD.