Yang Chen

The Chen Laboratory is focusing on understanding the key mechanism that controls the two hallmark features of pancreatic cancer: the desmoplastic stroma and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. We integrate computational biology (utilizing single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and other multi-omics analyses) with experimental biology (utilizing sophisticated transgenic mouse models), in conjunction with the cross-analysis of cancer patient datasets. Such multi-disciplinary research system will allow the systemic identification and investigation of novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers in pancreatic cancer. We have extensive research experience in establishing new transgenic mouse models with genetic deletion of selected target genes in various cell populations. These models allow us to investigate the functional roles and precise contributions of selected target genes in pancreatic tumor progression and immune response. Furthermore, the utilization of single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics methodologies enables the thorough evaluation of the tumor microenvironment profiles on our transgenic mouse models, revealing the interactions between cancer cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, myeloid cells, and lymphocytes.