Yung-Chi Cheng, PhD
Henry Bronson Professor of PharmacologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Pharmacology
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Chairman, Consortium for the Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM)
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Pharmacology
PO Box 208066, 333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8066
United States
Appointments
Pharmacology
Primary
Additional Titles
Chairman, Consortium for the Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM)
Contact Info
Pharmacology
PO Box 208066, 333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8066
United States
Appointments
Pharmacology
Primary
Additional Titles
Chairman, Consortium for the Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM)
Contact Info
Pharmacology
PO Box 208066, 333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8066
United States
About
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Titles
Henry Bronson Professor of Pharmacology
Chairman, Consortium for the Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM)
Biography
The Cheng laboratory studies and develops novel anti-cancer and anti-viral drugs.
Areas of anti-cancer research include: hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma.
Areas of anti-viral research include: hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Currently the lab is exploring systems biology approaches to developing multi-targeted medicines to treat cancer and other aging-related diseases.
Last Updated on November 04, 2025.
Appointments
Pharmacology
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Biochemistry, Quantitative Biology, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BQBS)
- Developmental Therapeutics
- Liver Center
- Microbiology
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Primary Faculty
- Virology Laboratories
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale Stem Cell Center
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- PhD
- Brown University (1972)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Complex Mixtures; Digestive System Diseases; Drug Discovery; Drugs, Investigational; Hormones; Immune System; Immune System Diseases; Inflammation; Medicine, Traditional; Neoplasms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Pharmacology; Plant Extracts; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Systems Biology; Therapeutics
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Yung-Chi Cheng's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Yung-Chi Cheng's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Yung-Chi Cheng is interested in exploring.
Elijah Paintsil, FAAP, MD
Wing Lam, PhD
Barbara Burtness, MD
Fulan Guan, PhD
Kimberly L. Johung, MD, PhD
Yasuko Iwakiri, PhD
457Publications
34,207Citations
Neoplasms
Plant Extracts
Inflammation
Publications
2026
Muribaculum intestinale alleviates depressive-like behaviors by inhibiting Th17 cell differentiation and M1 microglia polarization
He J, Wang M, Chen H, Zuo G, Li J, Yin W, Pan X, Cheng Y, Xia C, Xu J, Zhang W. Muribaculum intestinale alleviates depressive-like behaviors by inhibiting Th17 cell differentiation and M1 microglia polarization. Microbiome 2026, 14: 85. PMID: 41772743, PMCID: PMC12983756, DOI: 10.1186/s40168-026-02354-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAntidepressant-like effectsFecal microbiota transplantationTh17 cell differentiationDepressive-like behaviorM1 microglia polarizationShort-chain fatty acidsMicroglia polarizationCell differentiationMuribaculum intestinaleABX-treated miceOral bioavailabilityPathogenesis of depressionBehavioral benefitsGut microbiotaStress mouse modelRecipients of fecal microbiota transplantationEffects of loganinAntidepressant agentsMouse modelMicrobiota transplantationGut microbiota compositionTh17Microbial contributionAntibiotic cocktailMicrobiota dysbiosis
2025
Loganin Modulates Sigma‐1 Receptor to Alleviate Depression: Animal, Cellular, and Computational Evidence
Wang M, Xia C, Guo Y, Zuo G, Cheng Y, Yang H, Zhang W, He J, Xu J. Loganin Modulates Sigma‐1 Receptor to Alleviate Depression: Animal, Cellular, and Computational Evidence. Phytotherapy Research 2025, 40: 375-397. PMID: 41330741, DOI: 10.1002/ptr.70141.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDepressive-like behaviorAntidepressant-like effectsInflammation-related depressionSigma-1RSigma-1 receptorEffects of loganinLipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behaviorLPS-induced depressive-like behaviorOxidative stress levelsAntidepressant-like propertiesSigma-1NLRP3 inflammasomeSocial isolationThermal shift assayCellular thermal shift assayExperimental modelBinding affinityOxidative stressResponse to LPSDepressive symptomsAlleviate depressionAnti-inflammatory effectsMolecular docking analysisBehavioral outcomesMicroglia reactivityCornuside ameliorates LPS induced cognitive dysfunction and microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation by enhancing Sirt1-mediated autophagy
Lian W, Yuan X, Zhou F, Tong Z, Cheng Y, Zhang W, He J, Xu J. Cornuside ameliorates LPS induced cognitive dysfunction and microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation by enhancing Sirt1-mediated autophagy. Journal Of Ethnopharmacology 2025, 355: 120615. PMID: 40962125, DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.120615.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSirt1-mediated autophagyAutophagy activationPro-caspase1Cognitive dysfunctionEffects of cornusideAD miceMorris water mazeStep-through testNLRP3 inflammasome activationAutophagyAnti-inflammatory effectsMicroglial NLRP3 inflammasome activationInflammasome activationWater mazeBehavioral performanceY-mazeTreatment of dementiaBehavioral testsCognitive functionLPS-stimulated BV2 cellsInhibitory effectFructusBV2 cellsCornusideStructural damage172P Final analysis of a randomized, double blind, phase II study of sorafenib with or without YIV-906 in patients with advanced HCC
Abou-Alfa G, Yen Y, Harding J, Whang-Peng J, Shi Y, Yuen M, Li X, Gu S, Liu C, Jeng L, Yen C, Pan C, Chen S, Hsieh J, Saif W, Liu S, Li F, Lam W, Chu E, Cheng Y. 172P Final analysis of a randomized, double blind, phase II study of sorafenib with or without YIV-906 in patients with advanced HCC. Annals Of Oncology 2025, 36: s72. DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2025.05.185.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSteamed panax notoginseng mitigates CA-MRSA USA300-induced necroptosis in human neutrophils
Zhang L, Feng X, An H, Yang W, Xia Y, Wen B, Zheng H, Chen Y, Cheng Y, Jiang C, Lu C, Tan Y. Steamed panax notoginseng mitigates CA-MRSA USA300-induced necroptosis in human neutrophils. Frontiers In Pharmacology 2025, 16: 1546652. PMID: 40520183, PMCID: PMC12163054, DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1546652.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsCA-MRSAVirulence factorsCommunity-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAQuorum-sensing signaling pathwayPolymorphonuclear neutrophil countMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRPhagocytic function of polymorphonuclear neutrophilsGenes of MRSAPolymorphonuclear neutrophilsSignaling pathwayCA-MRSA infectionsHost innate immune responseBacterial virulence factorsDrug-resistant bacterial infectionsMCP-1IL-1BIL-8Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1bDisrupt innate immunityInnate immune responseRNA-seqFunctions of polymorphonuclear neutrophilsPathogenic microbial infectionsPanax notoginsengCytokines IL-1bCorrection: Cornuside alleviates cognitive impairments induced by Aβ1−42 through attenuating NLRP3-mediated neurotoxicity by promoting mitophagy
Zhou F, Lian W, Yuan X, Wang Z, Xia C, Yan Y, Wang W, Tong Z, Cheng Y, Xu J, He J, Zhang W. Correction: Cornuside alleviates cognitive impairments induced by Aβ1−42 through attenuating NLRP3-mediated neurotoxicity by promoting mitophagy. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2025, 17: 63. PMID: 40108656, PMCID: PMC11921720, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-025-01715-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsCornuside alleviates cognitive impairments induced by Aβ1−42 through attenuating NLRP3-mediated neurotoxicity by promoting mitophagy
Zhou F, Lian W, Yuan X, Wang Z, Xia C, Yan Y, Wang W, Tong Z, Cheng Y, Xu J, He J, Zhang W. Cornuside alleviates cognitive impairments induced by Aβ1−42 through attenuating NLRP3-mediated neurotoxicity by promoting mitophagy. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2025, 17: 47. PMID: 39972387, PMCID: PMC11837312, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-025-01695-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMitochondrial functionMitochondrial membrane potential depolarizationNLRP3 inflammasome activationInflammasome activationAlzheimer's diseasePromotion of mitophagyAnti-AD candidateBNIP3 pathwayFormation of autophagosomesDamaged mitochondriaProgressive neurodegenerative disorderProduction of ROSMitophagy fluxOxidative phosphorylationMitophagyMembrane potential depolarizationPINK1/Parkin signalingIncreased colocalizationMitochondrial dysfunctionNLRP3 inflammasomeAD miceSynaptic damageEt ZuccCaspase-1Neurodegenerative disorders
2024
Selective inhibition of tumor microvascular permeability by cavtratin blocks tumor progression in mice
Gratton J, Lin M, Yu J, Weiss E, Jiang Z, Fairchild T, Iwakiri Y, Groszmann R, Claffey K, Cheng Y, Sessa W. Selective inhibition of tumor microvascular permeability by cavtratin blocks tumor progression in mice. Cancer Cell 2024, 42: 1127. PMID: 38821059, DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.05.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricSafety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine: new era, new strategy
Zhao X, Bai Z, Zhan X, Wang J, Cheng Y, Xiao X. Safety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine: new era, new strategy. Acupuncture And Herbal Medicine 2024, 4: 171-175. DOI: 10.1097/hm9.0000000000000119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitations
2023
YIV-818-A: a novel therapeutic agent in prostate cancer management through androgen receptor downregulation, glucocorticoid receptor inhibition, epigenetic regulation, and enhancement of apalutamide, darolutamide, and enzalutamide efficacy
Lam W, Arammash M, Cai W, Guan F, Jiang Z, Liu S, Cheng P, Cheng Y. YIV-818-A: a novel therapeutic agent in prostate cancer management through androgen receptor downregulation, glucocorticoid receptor inhibition, epigenetic regulation, and enhancement of apalutamide, darolutamide, and enzalutamide efficacy. Frontiers In Pharmacology 2023, 14: 1244655. PMID: 37860121, PMCID: PMC10582333, DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1244655.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsCastration-resistant prostate cancerAR target genesActive compoundsAnti-prostate cancer drugProstate cancerSynergistic effectGlucocorticoid receptorPotential drug candidatesDrug discovery platformRA-VIILuciferase activityKey active compoundsGlucocorticoid receptor inhibitionProstate cancer managementNovel therapeutic agentsRA-VDrug candidatesCompoundsDeprivation therapySafety profileCancer deathExtra-terminal (BET) proteinsGR activityReceptor inhibitionAR inhibition
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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activity Globalization of Chinese Medicine
01/01/2008 - PresentResearchDetailsChina; Hong KongAbstract/SynopsisProfessor Yung-chi Cheng of the Yale School of Medicine has been working with the University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and a number of other prominent Chinese institutions to form a Consortium for the Globalization of Chinese Medicine. The Consortium brings together a network of academic, industrial and regulatory agencies to advance the field of Chinese medicine.
Honors
honor Honorary Prof Chang Chun University of Traditional Chinese Med; Honorary Professor Hua Qiao University; Cheung on Tak Intl Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Medicine
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Pharmacology
PO Box 208066, 333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8066
United States