After he established his lab at IH in the end of 2009, during the first period of his stay, he mainly focuses on two questions in hematopoietic system, 1) the functional relationship of AKT phosphorylation site of T308 and S476 in HSCs and 2) the balancing of mTORC1 and mTORC2 in HSCs. He and his collaborators, found mTORC2 is essential for earlier HSC development while exerts less effect at later stage (F. Zhou et al., Nature. 2016). Equal importantly, He discovered that loss of mTORC2 leads to exhaustion of LSCs in murine leukemia model (Y. Fang., Leukemia. 2016). These findings led to his conclusion that targeting mTORC2 is a feasible approach to treat leukemia and he is now developing small molecules to target the mTORC2 complex. By systemically studying mTORC1/2 or their pathway proteins in murine models (+10 publications), he concluded that there is a balancing action between mTORC1 and 2, if one is affected by the functional change of the other (Y. Gao et al., Journal of Hematology and Oncology. 2016; X. Wang et al., Haematologica. 2019).
In recent years, he is using human patient’s samples and clinical data, in combination with mouse models, to study hematopoietic aging process with a focus on aging- and BMF-related blood diseases and their epigenetic regulation. For example, he uses Fanconi anemia and aplastic anemia as study models and single cell sequencing technology to elucidate the genetic and phenotypical changes in aging on the hematopoietic system in patients, and in relevant mouse models to explore the mechanisms. He has since published several papers as corresponding authors (Zhang et al., Cell Report Medicine, 2025; Wang et al., Blood, 2024; Guo et al., Oncogene, 2024; Hou et al., Leukemia, 2023; Chang et al., Exp Hem and Oncology, 2022; Li et al., Leukemia, 2022; Yuan et al., Leukemia, 2021; Zhou et al., Oncogenesis, 2021; Chu et al., Oncogene, 2020; Zhou et al., Haematologica, 2019; Zhou et al., Cancer Res, 2018; Guo et al., International J. of Cancer, 2017).
PhD, Majoring in Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA, 1995-1998
MD, Majoring in Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. of China, 1981-1986
Principal Investigator, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, CAMS & PUMC, Tianjin 300020, China, 2009-
Senior Staff Scientist, Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, TN USA, 2008–2009
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina USA, 2005–2007
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. NC USA, 1999–2004
PRINCIPAL HONORS, AWARDS:
2011 Peking Union Scholar, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
2022 Overseas Senior Scholar Fund, National Natural Science Foundation of China
MAJOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, SOCIETIES AND BOARDS:
2012-2028 Committee member, Tianjin Society for Cell Biology, Chinese Society for Cell Biology,
2015-2027 Standing committee member, the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering, the Stem Cell Engineering Association of China
2020-2028 Vice Chair, Professional Committee for Bone Marrow Failure Diseases, Tianjin Medical and Health Association, Tianjin China
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1. Zhang L#, Qiu C#, Li R#, Shen Y, Tian L, Chang H, Liang Q, Pan H, Gao Z, Li W, Zhao J, Fang L, Yu X, Xu J, Kuang Z, Yuan W*, Chu Y*, Shi J*. KLRG1 re-define a leukemic clone of CD8 effector T cells sensitive to PI3K inhibitor in T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia. Cell Report Medicine. 2025 Mar 15:102036. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102036.
2. B. Wang#, D. Shi#, S. Yang#, Y. Lian#, H. Li, M. Cao, Y. He, L. Zhang, C. Qiu, T. Liu, W. Wen, Y. Ma, L. Shi, T. Cheng, L. Shi, W. Yuan*, Y. Chu* and J. Shi*. Mitochondrial tRNA pseudouridylation governs erythropoiesis. Blood. 2024 Aug 8;144(6):657-71. doi: 10.1182/blood.2023022004.
3. T. Guo#, Y. Wang, X. Sun, S. Hou, Y. Lan, S. Yuan, S. Yang, F. Zhao, Y. Chu, Y. Ma, T. Cheng, J. Yu, B. Liu, W. Yuan* and X. Wang*. Loss of RNA binding protein CELF2 promotes acute leukemia development via FAT10-mTORC1. Oncogene. 2024 May;43(19):1476-87. doi: 10.1038/s41388-024-03006-3.
4. S. Hou#, X. Wang#*, T. Guo#, Y. Lan, S. Yuan, S. Yang, F. Zhao, A. Fang, N. Liu, W. Yang, Y. Chu, E. Jiang, T. Cheng, X. Sun and W. Yuan*. PHF6 maintains acute myeloid leukemia via regulating NF-B signaling pathway. Leukemia 2023 Aug;37(8):1626-37. DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-01953-6
5. L. Chang#, Z. Cui#, D Shi#, Y. Chu#, B. Wang, Y. Wan, Q. Ma, R. Zhang, H. Li, X. Cheng, T. Cheng, X. Zhu*, C. Li*, and W. Yuan*. Polyclonal evolution of Fanconi anemia to MDS and AML revealed at single cell resolution. Experimental Hematology & Oncology. 2022 Sept 27;11(1):64. doi:10.1186/s40164-022-00319-5
6. M. Li#, Q. Chen, Y. Bian, D. Shi, B. Wang, Q. Ma, X. Wang, J. Shi, P. Zhu, T. Cheng, Y. Chu*, W. Yuan*. SETD5 Modulates Homeostasis of Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cells by Mediating RNA Pol II Pausing in Cooperation with HCF-1. Leukemia. 2022 Apr 36(4):1111-1122. DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01481-1. Epub 2021 Dec 1.
7. S. Yuan#, X. Wang#*, S. Hou, T. Guo, Y. Lan, S. Yang, F. Zhao, J. Gao, Y. Wang, Y. Chu, J. Shi, T. Cheng and W. Yuan*. PHF6 and JAK3 Mutations Cooperate to Drive T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Progression. Leukemia. 2021 Aug 31. DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01392-1. Epub 2021 Aug 31.
8. K. Zhou#, M. Zhou#, L. Cheng, X. Chen, X. Wang, Y. Chu, Q. Yu, S. Zhang, N. Wang, L. Zhao, D. Wang, L. Huang, C. Wang, W. Yuan* and J. Zhou*. Loss of MBD2 Attenuates MLL-AF9-Driven Leukemogenesis by Suppressing the Leukemic Cell Cycle via CDKN1C. Oncogenesis. 2021 Nov 17;10(11):79. doi: 10.1038/s41389-021-00366-3. Epub 2021.11.17
9. Y. Chu#*, Y. Chen#, H. Guo#, M. Li, B. Wang, D. Shi, X. Cheng, J. Guan, X. Wang, C. Xue, T. Cheng, J. Shi* and W. Yuan*. SUV39H1 regulates the progression of MLL-AF9-induced acute myeloid leukemia. Oncogene. 2020 Dec;39(50):7239-52. doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-01495-6. Epub 2020 Oct 9.
10. X. Wang#, Y. Gao#, J. Gao#, M. Li, M. Zhou, J. Wang, Y. Pang, H. Chen, C. Yuan, Y. Chu, Y. Jiang, J. Zhou, H.R. Luo, Z. Ju*, T. Cheng* and W. Yuan*. Rheb1 loss leads to increased hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and myeloid-biased differentiation in vivo. Haematologica. 2019 Feb;104(2):245-55. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2018.194811.
11. M. Zhou#, K. Zhou#, L. Cheng, X. Chen, J. Wang, X. Wang, Y. Zhang, Q. Yu, S. Zhang, D. Wang, L. Huang, M. Huang, D. Ma, T. Cheng, C. Wang*, W. Yuan*, and J. Zhou*. MBD2 ablation impairs lymphopoiesis and impedes progression and maintenance of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Research. 2018 Apr 1;178(7):1632-42. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-1434.
12. H. Guo#, Y. Chu#, L. Wang, X. Chen, Y. Chen, H. Cheng, L. Zhang, Y. Zhou, F. Yang, T. Cheng, M. Xu, X. Zhang, J. Zhou*, W. Yuan*. PBX3 is essential for leukemia stem cell maintenance in MLL-rearranged leukemia. International Journal of Cancer. 2017 Jul 15;141(2):324-335. DOI:10.1002/ijc.30739
13. Y. Fang#, Y. Yang#, C. Hua#, S. Xu#, M. Zhou, H. Guo, N Wang, X. Zhao, L. Huang, F. Yu, H. Cheng, M. Wang, L. Meng, T. Cheng, W. Yuan*, D. Ma*, J. Zhou*. Rictor Has a Pivotal Role in Maintaining Quiescence as well as Stemness of Leukemia Stem Cells in MLL-Driven Leukemia. Leukemia. 2017 Feb;31(2):414-22. doi: 10.1038/leu.2016.223.
14. F. Zhou#, X. Li#, W. Wang#, P. Zhu#, J. Zhou#, W. He#, M. Ding, F. Xiong, X. Zheng, Z. Li, Y. Ni, X. Mu, L. Wen, T. Cheng, Y. Lan, W. Yuan*, F. Tang*, B. Liu*. Tracing Haematopoietic Stem Cell Formation at Single-cell Resolution. Nature. 2016 May 26;533(7604):487-92. DOI: 10.1038/nature17997
15. Y. Gao#, J. Gao#, M. Li, Y. Zheng, Y. Wang, H. Zhang, W. Wang, Y. Chu, X. Wang*, M. Xu, Tao Cheng, Z. Ju, W. Yuan*. Rheb1 promotes tumor progression through mTORC1 in MLL-AF9-initiated murine acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Hematology and Oncology. 2016. Apr 12; 9:36. DOI: 10.1186/s13045-016-0264-3