Dr. Yingzi Yang

Biography

Yingzi Yang is a Professor at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, specializing in Developmental Biology. Her research laboratory employs genetic and molecular cellular approaches to investigate the critical roles of cell signaling in mammalian embryonic morphogenesis and the homeostatic maintenance of adult tissues, with specific emphasis on the skeleton, dental-craniofacial system, and liver. She focuses on understanding the functional mechanisms of cell-cell communications via Wnt, Hedgehog (Hh), and Hippo pathways, aiming to bridge discoveries in fundamental mechanisms of human disease with characterization and treatment strategies. Her group has generated unique genetic biochemical tools that allow them to address several fundamental questions regarding normal development and disease models. Recently, Yang's research identified Gαs signaling as a central regulator in Wnt, Hedgehog (Hh), and Hippo signaling, elucidating how breakdowns in these pathways lead to human genetic diseases. Her significant findings include the functional mechanisms of the PCP pathway, a crucial aspect of the evolutionarily conserved Wnt signaling pathway that provides directional information during morphogenetic processes. Yang's current efforts are divided into four major projects focusing on the roles of Wnt, Hedgehog (Hh), and Hippo signaling in development, molecular mechanisms underlying Piezo1-controlled mechanotransduction in the skeletal system, and the cellular mechanisms leading to liver tumor formation due to chronic liver damage and metabolic abnormalities.

Research Interests