Yu-Ching Peng
Graduate Student
Lab Phone:
212-639-3980
E-mail:
yup2003@med.cornell.edu
Education and Training
2008-Present
PhD research, Lab of Dr. Alexandra Joyner
Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB) Allied Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
2007-2008
Research Assistant, Lab of John Yu
Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
1999-2006
MD, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Research Interests
I am interested in understanding the role of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling in prostate regeneration. The mouse prostate is a unique organ in that it undergoes involution after castration and regenerates to its original size after androgen replacement. Shh is secreted by prostate epithelial cells and signals to adjacent mesenchyme. A previous graduate student, Charles Levine, in the lab has found that Shh-responding mesenchymal cells have stem cell properties in the prostate. I am currently working on the characterization of these cells and I am also trying to identify mesenchymal stem cell related genes.
The other aspect of my research is focused on the role of Shh in prostate cancer. Increased Hh signaling has been associated with prostate cancer. However, the mesenchymal targets of Shh signaling are poorly understood. I am interested in understanding the stromal-epithelial interactions which are important for tumor development.
Education and Training
2008-Present
PhD research, Lab of Dr. Alexandra Joyner
Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB) Allied Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
2007-2008
Research Assistant, Lab of John Yu
Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
1999-2006
MD, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Research Interests
I am interested in understanding the role of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling in prostate regeneration. The mouse prostate is a unique organ in that it undergoes involution after castration and regenerates to its original size after androgen replacement. Shh is secreted by prostate epithelial cells and signals to adjacent mesenchyme. A previous graduate student, Charles Levine, in the lab has found that Shh-responding mesenchymal cells have stem cell properties in the prostate. I am currently working on the characterization of these cells and I am also trying to identify mesenchymal stem cell related genes.
The other aspect of my research is focused on the role of Shh in prostate cancer. Increased Hh signaling has been associated with prostate cancer. However, the mesenchymal targets of Shh signaling are poorly understood. I am interested in understanding the stromal-epithelial interactions which are important for tumor development.
