Education:

1991-1995 Bachelor, Biochemistry, Nanjing University, China
1995-2000 Ph.D., Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, CAS, China
2002-2008 Postdoc. Fellow, Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Center, Canada

Professional Experience:

2000-2002 Assistant Professor, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, CAS, China
2009-Present Associate Professor/Principal Investigator, Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Soochow University, China

Research:

Identification of the critical genes in the initiation and progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
Utilizing the genetic profiling data of CML stem/progenitor cells compared with normal counterparts, this research laboratory aims to identify critical genes involved in the maintenance and progression of the leukemic stem cells and delineate their functional mechanisms in these cells, which might provide novel insights or potential therapeutic targets of leukemic stem cells.

Investigators:

Xiuyan Zhang, Master in Cell Biology, Senior Research Associate
Wenjuan Ma, Master student
Jie Wu, Master student
Li-Li Sun, Master student

Representative papers:

1. Xu Y*, Zhao Y*, Huang H, Chen G, Wu X, Wang Y, Chang W, Zhu Z, Feng Y & Wu D. Expression and function of toll-like receptors in multiple myeloma patients: Toll-like receptor ligands promote multiple myeloma cells growth and survival via activation of nuclear factor-κB. Br. J. Haematol. 2010, 150(5):543-53 *These authors contributed equally
2. Zhou L, Zhao Y, Ringrose A, Lin A, Kennah E, Sheng G, Li XJ, Turhan A, & Jiang X. AHI-1 interacts with BCR-ABL and modulates BCR-ABL transforming activity and imatinib response of chronic myeloid leukemia progenitor cells. J. Exp. Med. 2008, 205(11):2657-71
3. Raouf A, Zhao Y, To K, Stingl J, Delaney A, Barbara M, Iscove N, Jones S, McKinney S, Emerman J, Aparicio S, Marra M & Eaves C. Transcriptome analysis of the normal human mammary cell commitment and differentiation process. Cell Stem Cell. 2008, 3(1):109-18
4. Zhao Y, Raouf A, Kent D, Khattra J, Delaney A, Schnerch A, Asano J, McDonald H, Chan C, Jones S, Marra MA, Eaves CJ. A modified polymerase chain reaction-long serial analysis of gene expression protocol identifies novel transcripts in human CD34+ bone marrow cells. Stem Cells. 2007, 25(7):1681-9
5. Jiang X, Zhao Y, Smith C, Gasparetto M, Turhan A, Eaves A, Eaves C. Chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells possess multiple unique features of resistance to BCR-ABL targeted therapies. Leukemia. 2007, 21(5):926-35
6. Jiang X, Zhao Y, Chan WY, Vercauteren S, Pang E, Kennedy S, Nicolini F, Eaves A and Eaves C. Deregulated expression in Ph+ human leukemias of AHI-1, a gene activated by insertional mutagenesis in mouse models of leukaemia. Blood. 2004, 103(10):3897-904