معرفی
Yun Lyna Luo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences. Her research focuses on computational biophysics, leveraging molecular dynamics and free-energy approaches to study ion channel gating, ligand binding, and mechanism-driven drug design. Dr. Luo joined Western University in 2013 after postdoctoral training at Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago. She holds a PhD from École Normale Supérieure (Paris VI) and degrees from Zhejiang University.
Education:
- Postdoc, Argonne National Laboratory, 2011–2013
- Postdoc, University of Chicago, 2008–2011
- PhD, École Normale Supérieure (Paris VI), 2004–2007
- BSc/MSc, Zhejiang University, 1997–2004
Research Interests: Dr. Luo’s lab develops multiscale computational methods to elucidate ion channel mechanisms and design drugs targeting mechanosensitive channels (e.g., PIEZO1), connexin hemichannels, and cancer-associated pathways. Her work integrates AI tools with free-energy simulations to advance precision medicine.
Grants & Collaborations:
- NIH R01 (MPI: Luo & Lacroix), 2019–2028: Pharmacological modulation of PIEZO1
- NIH R01 (co-I), 2023–2028: Targeting protein arginine methyltransferases in AML
- NSF Collaborative, 2024–2027: Sensory membrane protein dynamics
Achievements: Invited speaker at major conferences (e.g., Gordon Research Conference, Biophysical Society Annual Meeting). Editorial roles include Communications Biology (2022–present) and Biophysical Journal (2025–present). Active in professional societies such as the Biophysical Society and American Chemical Society.
Labs & Teams: Directs the Luo Lab at WesternU, focusing on membrane protein simulations and drug discovery. Collaborates with institutions like UC Davis, Yale, and City of Hope on translational research projects.
