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Yiqiang Cai, PhD, MD

Associate Research Scientist (Nephrology)
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Associate Research Scientist (Nephrology)

Biography

Dr. Cai graduated from Hunan Medical University in China (M.D. equivalent) and Tokushima University School of Medicine in Japan (Ph.D.). His primary research interest is on the study of polycystic kidney disease with current focus on the molecular basis of the PKD pathogenesis. Dr. Cai is the co-author of more than 40 publications that published in well known professional journals including "Science", "Nature Genetics" (4 papers), "Cell", "Nature Cell Biology", "Science Signaling", "Journal of Clinical Investigation", "Journal of Biological Chemistry", "PNAS" (In press), and others which have been cited by more than 6500 articles (google scholar/2023). Dr. Cai is the recipient of the American Heart Association Scientist Development Award (grant) (2001-2004), the PKD Foundation Research Grant (2005-2006), the Travel Award of the American Society of Nephrology (six times, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, & 2013), and The Jared Grantham Symposium Travel Award (2014). Dr. Cai is the invited reviewer for many professional journals such as the "Journal of American Society of Nephrology", "Kidney International", "Cancer Letter", "Human Molecular Genetics", and others. Dr. Cai is the invited speaker by many Institutions/conference in USA, Japan, Canada, Korea, Netherlands, and in China. Dr. Cai was honored as the "Guest Professor" by the Southern Medical University and the Central South University respectively in China (2008-2012/2013).


Appointments

  • Nephrology

    Associate Research Scientist
    Primary

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

PhD
Tokushima University School of Medicine (1995)
MD
Hunan Medical University (1987)

Research

Overview

My current research is focused on the study of molecular basis of ADPKD pathogenesis. By establishing cell-based model and BAC-transgenic mouse model, we are trying to answer the following questions: 1) How are polycystin-1 and polycystin-2 trafficking to cilia regulated; 2) What is the consequence that trafficking defect of the polycystins cause in the cystogenesis/PKD pathogenesis; 3) What is the molecular basis underlying the mutations of PKD1 and PKD2 genes, 4) How is the polycystin-2 phosphorylation regulated, and 5) What is the role that regulation of polycystin-2 phosphorylation plays on the PKD pathogenesis.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Diseases

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Yiqiang Cai's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

2022

2021

2019

2016

2014

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    linking the defect of ciliary trafficking to a genetic kidney cystic disease: insights on a potential pharmaceutical target for ADPKD

  • honor

    The Jared Grantham Symposium Travel Award

  • activity

    Modified BAC-transgene: a powerful tool for studies of gene function and genetic diseases

  • honor

    Advances in Research Conference Travel Award

  • activity

    The long way toward understanding of polycystic kidney disease

Get In Touch

Contacts

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