Dr. Yujun Cai

Biography

Yujun Cai joined Yale School of Medicine from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School in Boston. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cyclic nucleotide signaling involved in the pathogenesis of arterial and venous disorders. He has a longstanding interest in investigating the function, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic potential of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in cardiovascular diseases. Yujun has expertise in inflammation, extracellular matrix biology, and lysosome function related to vascular disorders. His research employs various approaches including RNA-Seq and bioinformatics, proteomics, in vitro primary cell culture, and state-of-the-art in vivo rodent surgical models of disease, as well as human specimens from patients and transgenic mice. He collaborates with vascular biologists, surgeons, bioengineers, and experts in gene and drug delivery, aiming to achieve significant research outcomes. His work has been supported by NIH R01 and the AHA Transformational Project Award, with findings published in prestigious journals, including Circulation Research. Additionally, he is committed to mentoring postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, and undergraduate students.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards