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Qizhi Cathy Yao

Yao

Qizhi Cathy Yao, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Surgery

(713) 798-1765

Positions

Professor of Surgery
Division of Surgical Oncology
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Professor
Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology
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Addresses

Molecular Surgeon Research Center R430 (Lab)
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Houston, TX, 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-1816
Vascular Surgery
Alkek Building for Biomedical Research (Office)
91¹ú²úÊÓÆµ
Houston, TX, 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-1765

Education

Advanced Training from Emory University
01/1997 - Atlanta, GA, United States
PhD from Emory University
01/1996 - Atlanta, GA, GA, United States
MS from University of Texas at El Paso
01/1990 - El Paso, TX
MD from Southeast University Medical School
Nanjing, China
M.D. from Nanjing University
01/1986 - Nanjing, China, People's Rep

Honors & Awards

Molecular Surgeon Research Achievement Award
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Norton Rose Fulbright Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching & Evaluation
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Professional Interests

  • Pancreatic cancer immunotherapy
  • Pancreatic cancer pathogenesis
  • Nanoparticle targeted delivery

Professional Statement

My lab is interested in developing non-infectious HIV virus-like particles (VLPs) as candidate HIV mucosal vaccines for both preventive and therapeutic purposes. In preclinical studies, VLPs formed by structural proteins are highly immunogenic and capable of inducing protective immunity against various viral infections. We have modified vaccine immunogens into chimeric HIV VLPs which contain influenza viral surface glycoprotein HA or other immunologically functional molecules. We have shown that the chimeric HIV VLPs can induce enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses against HIV in a mouse model.
We have also studied the basic mechanisms of VLP-induced humoral and cellular immune responses, and other factors that affect these responses. For example, we found that VLP vaccines activate conventional B2 cells and promote B cell differentiation to IgG2a producing plasma cells; that VLP vaccines travel to the lymph nodes upon immunization and can be directly visualized by optical imaging techniques; and that intradermal immunization generates improved responses and might be a preferable delivery route for viral and cancer immunotherapeutic studies involving VLPs.
Since dendritic cells (DCs) have long been known to be pivotal in initiating immune responses, we are also interested in how VLPs modulate DC functions and will evaluate the efficacy of VLP-pulsed DC vaccines. In addition, we are interested in testing the efficacy of modified chimeric VLP oral-mucosal immunization in non-human primates.
Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates and ranks as the third leading cause of cancer death in America. Survival is poor because there are no reliable tests for early diagnosis and no effective therapies to treat metastatic disease. There is a need to better understand the molecular mechanisms of pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis and to develop effective treatments. My lab currently focuses on the study of key molecules in pancreatic cancer, including Mesothelin (MSLN), Trop2 and Fibrinogen (FBG), and in their mechanisms of regulation. We are also interested in the involvement of microRNAs (miR-198) in pancreatic cancer, and how their dysregulation leads to pathogenesis. We are currently exploring tumor-associated molecule targeted therapies and RNA interference delivery by liposomes and PLGA nanoparticles in vivo. In addition, we are interested in developing non-infectious chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) as a vaccine candidate for pancreatic cancer. Our group has shown that vaccinating mice with chimeric virus-like particles containing MSLN significantly inhibited tumor progression, suggesting a new therapeutic vaccine strategy whereby MSLN is targeted to attempt to control pancreatic cancer progression. We are also employing pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDX) mouse model to study the potential of our various therapeutic regimens.

Videos

Modulation of miR-198

Selected Publications

  • Zhang S, Li F, Younes M, Liu H, Chen C, Yao Q. " " PLoS ONE. 2013 ; 8 (5) : e63702.
    Pubmed PMID: .
  • Bharadwaj U, Marin-Muller C, Li M, Chen C, Yao Q. " " Mol. Cancer. 2011 ; 10 : 106.
    Pubmed PMID: .
  • Marin-Muller C, Rios A, Anderson D, Siwak E, Yao Q. " " J. Virol. Methods. 2013 Apr ; 189 (1) : 125-8.
    Pubmed PMID: .
  • Bharadwaj U, Marin-Muller C, Li M, Chen C, Yao Q. " " Carcinogenesis. 2011 Jul ; 32 (7) : 1013-24.
    Pubmed PMID: .

Memberships

American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for Cancer Research
Association for Academic Surgery
American Association of Immunologists
Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America
American Society for Virology
National Academy of Inventors
Fellow

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