語言

Cheng, Y.-S. Edmond

Research Specialist

ysechenggateEmail

 

EDUCATION AND POSITIONS HELD:

  • Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Purdue University (1976)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory ( 1977-1979)
  • Instructor, Harvard University (1979-1980)
  • Member of Research Staff , E. I. Dupont & Co. (1980-1990)
  • Senior Research Virologist, Dupont Merck pharmaceutical Co. (1990-1994)
  • Senior Director Biology, Fuji ImmunoPharmaceutical Corp. (1994-1997)
  • Senior Director Biochemistry, Shionogi BioResearch Corp. (1997-2001)
  • President, NeutraPharmaceutical Corp. (2001-2002)
  • Director of Pharmacology, Gryphon Therapeutics (2002-2003)
  • Senior Research Specialist, Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, 2003-present 

EXPERTISE / SPECIALTY / ACHIEVEMENT:

I went through two different research tracks before I joined Academia Sinica. When I was working at E. I. Dupont & Co. and Dupont Merck Pharmaceutical Co., I was interested in anti-viral mechanisms. In my interferon mechanistic study, I identified two novel interferon-induced guanylate binding proteins (GBP) from both human and murine cells. These proteins were purified and the cDNAs cloned and characterized. Subsequent studies in other laboratories defined the antiviral functions of GBP and the related interferon regulatory elements. I then started a research interest in viral proteases and their inhibitors. My earlier studies in HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteases were highlighted in the construction of the novel one-chain dimmers of these proteases. These studies led to the structural studies of these proteins and their inhibitor interactions. In addition, my research activities of the HIV-1 protease produced the first HIV protease animal model in a transgenic mice and the first demonstration that drug resistant HIV mutants could be readily induced from protease inhibitor-treated HIV populations. My research activities during my subsequent appointments were more diversified, focusing on drug discovery, lead development, and some product development studies. Throughout that period, my research activities included high throughput screening for drug lead discovery, lead optimizations, and preclinical pharmacology studies. At GRC, my interesting is to help the group verify drug targets using RNAi silencing technologies, develop assay protocols and identify drug leads by high throughput screening of compound libraries.