Odette Cancer Program

Administrative Assistant: Melanie Suttar
Phone: 416-480-6100 ext. 63537
Email: melanie.suttar@sunnybrook.ca

Education:

• B.Sc., 1982, plant pathology, South China Agricultural University, China
• M.Sc., 1985, biochemistry of plant virology, South China Agricultural University, China
• PhD, 1991, microbiology, University of Manitoba, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Senior scientist, Biological Sciences, Odette Cancer Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Professor, laboratory medicine and pathobiology, faculty of medicine, University of Toronto
• Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Cardiac Remodeling

Research Focus:

• The role of circular RNAs in tissue remodeling

Research Summary:

Tissue homeostasis refers to the structural and functional maintenance of cell, tissue and organ systems. Perturbations in these systems occur during developmental or pathological processes, coordinating multiple signalling pathways and biological responses. Dr. Yang’s group is studying the roles of circular RNAs, a subclass of non-coding RNAs, in mediating cell activities associated with tissue remodeling and repair. The group has developed unique tools to study circular RNA functions and mechanisms. With these approaches, Dr. Yang’s group has found that tissues from hearts of aged mice expressed increased levels of circ-Foxo3 relative to cardiac tissue from young mice. Their studies show that ectopic expression of circ-Foxo3 inhibited cell cycle progression by binding to p21 and CDK2. They also found that ectopic expression of circ-Foxo3 induced cardiac fibroblast senescence. The group is also studying the roles of circular RNAs in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

1. Du WW, Yang W, Chen Y, Wu ZK, Foster FS, Yang Z, Li X, and Yang BB (2017). Foxo3 circular RNA regulates senescence by modulating multiple factors associated with stress and senescence responses. European Heart J, 38(18):1402-1412.
2. Wu N, Yuan Z, Du KY, Fang L, Lyu J, Zhang C, He A, Eshaghi E, Zeng K, Ma J, Du WW, and Yang BB (2019) Translation of Yes-associated Protein (YAP) was antagonized by its circular RNA via suppressing the assembly of the translation initiation machinery. Cell Death and Differentiation, 26(12):2758-2773.
3. Li F, Yang Q, He AT, Yang BB (2020) Circular RNAs in cancer: limitations in functional studies and diagnostic potential, Seminar in Cancer Biology, Oct 6:S1044-579X(20)30207-8.
4. He AT, Liu J, Li F, Yang BB (2021) Targeting circular RNA as a therapeutic approach: current strategies and challenges, Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 2021 May 21;6(1):185.
5. Du WW, Xu J, Yang W, Wu N, Li F, Zhou L, Wang S, Li X, He AT, Du KY, Zeng K, Ma J, Lyu J, Zhang C, Zhou C, Maksimovic K, Yang BB (2021) A Neuroligin Isoform Translated by circNlgn Contributes to Cardiac Remodeling, Circulation Research, 129(5):568-582
6. Misir S, Wu N, Yang BB (2022) Specific Expression and Functions of Circular RNAs. Cell Death and Differentiation, 29(3):481-491. (IF 15.83)

Awards and Honours:

• 1997–2001, Arthritis Society of Canada Scholarship
• 2001–2006, Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award
• 2006–2011, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Career Investigator Award
• 2012–2017, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Career Investigator Award
  

Related News and Stories:

• Scientists secure investment from federal research funding agency: Grants will advance new approaches to treating cancer, and diseases of the heart and brain (July 16, 2019)
• Resounding approval: Sunnybrook Research Institute's success rate in CIHR competition soars past national average (Jan. 25, 2018)
• SRI scientists top the national average in successful CIHR project grants: Over a dozen projects approved (June 2, 2017)
• CIHR responds to revolt while releasing results: Peer rebellion brings promise of change to granting agency (July 18, 2016)
• The secret life of microRNAs: SRI scientist studies role of microRNAs in vascular development and diseases (June 25, 2012)
• All in the Genes: Developing a new method to treat cancer at its source (SRI Magazine, 2010)
• Model first to monitor functions of individual microRNAs: Sunnybrook researchers' unique model helps further gene regulation study related to aging, self-renewal and tumour angiogenesis (Aug. 24, 2009)