An4u Vivian Cheung
Vivian Cheung is a prominent scientist and physician who studies the regulation and function of RNA in human cells. She is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a professor of pediatrics and human genetics at the University of Michigan, and a research professor at the Life Sciences Institute . She is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a recipient of the NIH Director's Pioneer Award.
An4u Vivian Cheung
Cheung's research focuses on understanding how RNA processing and modification affect gene expression and cellular phenotypes in normal and diseased states. She uses a combination of computational and experimental methods to map and characterize the genetic and environmental factors that influence RNA variation. She is particularly interested in RNA editing, which is a process that alters the nucleotide sequence of RNA transcripts after they are synthesized by RNA polymerase II.
One of Cheung's major contributions to the field of RNA biology was the discovery of widespread RNA-DNA sequence differences in the human transcriptome. In 2011, she and her colleagues reported that more than 10,000 genes in human cells have transcripts that differ from their corresponding DNA sequences. These differences were not due to sequencing errors or genomic mutations, but rather to RNA editing or other post-transcriptional modifications. Cheung's team showed that these RNA-DNA differences affect gene expression, splicing, protein interactions, and cellular functions.
Cheung has also applied her expertise in RNA biology to study human diseases, such as neurodegeneration, cancer, and radiation response. She has identified novel RNA regulators and biomarkers that are associated with disease phenotypes and outcomes. For example, she found that mutations in the gene encoding the RNA helicase senataxin cause a rare form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. She also discovered that radiation-induced changes in human gene expression are mediated by RNA editing and are influenced by genetic variation.
In addition to her research, Cheung is also a pediatric neurologist who treats children with neurological disorders. She is passionate about translating her scientific discoveries into clinical applications that can improve human health. She has advocated for the development of a large-scale project to map the human RNAome, which is the collection of all RNA molecules in a cell or organism. She believes that such an effort would greatly enhance our understanding of human biology and disease, as well as provide new opportunities for diagnosis and therapy.
Vivian Cheung is an inspiring example of a scientist who combines curiosity, creativity, and innovation to advance the frontiers of knowledge. She is also a role model for women and minorities in science, as she has overcome many challenges and barriers in her career. She is widely recognized as a leader and pioneer in the field of RNA biology, and has made significant contributions to both basic and translational research.
References:
[Vivian Cheung Lab Life Sciences Institute]
[Vivian Cheung, M.D. Human Genetics Michigan Medicine]
[An4u Vivian Cheung]
[Wang IX et al., Cell Rep 2014](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124713006880)
[Li M et al., Science 2011](https://science.sciencemag.org/content/333/6038/53)
[Grunseich C et al., Mol Cell 2018](https://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/fulltext/S1097-2765(17)30966-9)
[Smirnov DA et al., Nature 2009](https://www.nature.com/articles/nature07940)
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