CRS Scientist Spotlight on Dr. Yinu Wang

Dr. Yinu Wang, PhD, is a research assistant professor in Dr. Daniela Matei's laboratory. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms contributing to recurrence and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer (OC) to improve clinical outcomes. 

What is your current position? 

I am a research assistant professor, in Dr. Daniela Matei’s Laboratory, at Feinberg School of Medicine. 

Could you describe your research? 

My research interest focuses on understanding the mechanisms contributing to recurrence and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer (OC) to improve clinical outcomes. As a graduate student, I studied the mechanisms contributing to the emergence of chemoresistant recurrent tumors and focused on the functions of cancer stem cells (CSCs) driving tumor relapse. This work defined key signaling pathways contributing to the maintenance of ovarian CSCs. I also laid the groundwork for investigating epigenetic targeting of ovarian CSCs, by using DNMT methytransferase inhibitors. Consistent with my long-standing interest in OC research, I pursued post-doctoral training at Northwestern University to continue to discover epigenetic, genetic, and metabolic signatures contributing to stemness maintenance of ovarian CSCs, with the goal of defining stemness-associated vulnerabilities. My current research focuses on defining epigenetic signatures and the 3D chromatin nanoarchitecture of ovarian CSCs and characterizing metabolic features associated with stemness and chemoresistance in OC cells.  

What aspect(s) of CRS do you find most valuable or look forward to engaging in?  

I really like the intellectual and diverse mentoring environment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and CRS, which boosted my research ideas and provided me with unique resources and collaborators.  

What has been the most valuable aspect to your training as a scientist? 

As a trainee, I am deeply inspired by my mentor, Dr. Matei’s enthusiastic passion, and motivation conducting clinical trials and basic science research in gynecologic malignancies, which solidifies my commitment to academic science, especially in ovarian cancer research.  Thus, the most valuable aspect to my training is that I acquired diverse skills to become an independent cancer investigator, including building professional collaboration skills with multidisciplinary teams of scientists, and developing my expertise in the “bench-to-bedside” research, mentoring and research grant writing skills. 

What would you recommend to junior scientists in order for them to succeed in their scientific careers? ​  

It is important to keep your passions about science, and being self-motivated, as you are the only person, who will determine how much contributions you can make to the field.  

What do you think will be the next big contribution in your field?  

Heterogeneity is a hallmark of many cancers, including ovarian cancer, which contributes to chemoresistance and tumor relapse. I think the next big contribution in the field of ovarian cancer research will be to discover precise vulnerabilities or therapeutical targets of each subpopulation within tumors, by using Single Cell Multi-Omics Sequencing approaches. There is a critical need to develop novel strategies to eradicate all the cancer populations and cure this fatal disease.  

What hobbies do you have outside of the lab?  

Sometimes the fast-paced life makes us forget how colorful life is. I like running, as I can enjoy the beautiful views step by step. I like drawing, as I can sketch the joyful moments line by line.