Yuan Gao

Yuan Gao, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a member of the Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research focuses on uncovering mechanisms of gene expression regulation in cancers, particularly targeting transcription factors (TFs) and their roles in oncogenesis. Key areas include Ewing sarcoma dependency on ETV6, histone inheritance in stem cells and tumors, and metabolite-driven TF modulation.

Her work combines genetic screening, biochemical approaches, and structural biology to identify therapeutic strategies against 'undruggable' targets. Notable achievements include discovering phosphatidic acid binding to ETV6 and its role in oligomerization critical for Ewing sarcoma progression. Recent studies also explore stress-driven metastasis via neutrophil activity and histone dynamics in cancer progression.

Dr. Gao’s lab employs multi-omics technologies to dissect transcriptional and epigenetic networks, aiming to translate mechanistic insights into clinical tools. She holds affiliations with major cancer programs and has contributed to high-impact journals like Nature Cell Biology, Nature Genetics, and Cancer Cell.