中央研究院 Logo

Dr. Yun C. Yung is an Assistant Professor at the Scintillon Research Institute and co-Founder of Allele Cypert Technology Inc. in San Diego, USA.  Dr. Yung is the expert of genomic mosaicism of human brain development, neural degenerative diseases and tumor angiogenesis. By using innovative and cutting edge technologies such as single-cell analysis, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and novel camelid-derived nanoantibodies (single-domain antibodies), Dr. Yung’s lab is aiming to develop more effective diagnostic biomarkers and therapies. Recently, Dr. Yung’s laboratory, in collaboration with Allele Biotechnology Inc in San Diego, is focused on utilizing messenger RNA methods to cultivate iPSCs, differentiate cells into desired cell types such as pancreatic beta cells and functional fibroblasts (termed fMSCs), and to demonstrate how these cells can be used in autologous fashion as disease therapies.  A particularly promising approach is using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from efficient mRNA reprogramming and turning them into highly homogenous, reproducible, and well-differentiated cell types. These high-quality cells have numerous advantages, including the use of mRNA as a foot-print free method of introducing genes, strong consistent expression of genes, and functional outcomes that outperform many other cell lines in preclinical studies, leading to likely clear downstream advantages.  These technologies can be used to build a rich database to design future personalized medicines.  Moreover, it is of clear interest in leveraging the high-tech national expertise in Taiwan as a major biomedical hub to help turn this technology into better and more effective medicines and treatments.