Yousin Suh, Ph.D.

Yousin Suh, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Genetics
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Professor, Department of Medicine (Endocrinology) 

Dr. Suh's long-term research goal is to investigate the genetic components of aging and aging-related disease using functional genomics approaches. She and colleagues focus on the identification of gene sequence variation, i.e. single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in candidate genes and the assessment of their potential functional impact on aging-related phenotypes. Candidate genes include categories of genes implicated in the modulation of common causes of aging, e.g. free radical production, antioxidant defense, genome maintenance, and apoptosis, or more targeted pathways involved in specific aging-related diseases such as breast cancer. full bio>> 

Key Publications

1. Xiong, X.D., Cho, M., Cai, X.P., Cheng, J., Jing, X., Cen, J.M., Liu, X., Yang, X.L., Suh, Y. A common variant in pre-miR-146 is associated with coronary artery disease risk and its mature miRNA expression. Mutation Research. 761:15-20. 2014.
2. Han, J., Atzmon, G., Barzilai, N., Suh, Y. Genetic variation in SIRT1 is associated with lipid profiles but not with longevity in Ashkenazi Jews. Translational Research 165(4):480-1.
3. Cho, S., Cho, M., Kim, J., Kaeberlein, M., Lee, S.J., and Suh, Y. Syringaresinol Protects against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Cardiomyocytes Injury and Death by Destabilization of HIF-1 in a FOXO3-Dependent Mechanism. Oncotarget. 6(1):43-55. 2015.
4. Cheng, J., Cho, M., Cen, J.M., Cai, M.Y., Xu, S., Ma, Z.W., Liu, X., Yang, X.L., Chen, C., Suh, Y*, Xiong, X.D.*. A TagSNP in SIRT1 Gene Confers Susceptibility to Myocardial Infarction in a Chinese Han Population. PLoS One. 2015 Feb 23;10(2):e0115339.
   *Co-corresponding authors
5. Park, C., Suh, Y*., and Cuervo*, A.C. Regulated degradation of Chk1 by chaperone-mediated autophagy in response to DNA damage. Nature Communications. 2015. Apr 16;6:6823.
   *Co-corresponding authors
6. Xiong, X.-D., Jung, H.J., Gombar, S, Park, J.Y., Zhang, C.L., Zheng, H.-L., Ruan, J., Li, J.-B., Kaeberlein, M., Kennedy, B.K., Zhou, Z., Liu, X., and Suh, Y. MicroRNA transcriptome analysis identifies miR-365 as a novel negative regulator of cell proliferation in Zmpste24-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Mutation Research 2015. April 23.

Funding

1. 1R01GM104459-03 (Suh)
   04/05/13-01/31/17
   NIH/NIGMS
   $484,500/yr
   New Methods to Uncover Global Transcriptional Programs for Disease Risk Variants The objective of this project is to integrate disease susceptibility-associated sequence variations into the emerging three-dimensional network of genomic region interactions, establish local and global alterations in gene transcription, and explore the key role of enhancer-RNAs harboring sequence variations at GWAS loci.
   Role: PI
2. 2P01AG017242-A101 (Vijg)
   09/26/14-06/30/19
   NIH
   $310,000/yr (Project 4)
   DNA Repair, Mutations and Cellular Aging
   The goals of Project 4 are to coordinate interaction between five well-established and well-funded research groups with complementary backgrounds, to focus upon the role of genome stability mechanisms in longevity and aging as possible sources of intervention.
   Role: Project Leader
3. R01CA180126-02 (Vijg/Spivack/Suh/Auton)
   09/04/13-06/30/17
   NIH
   $407,118/yr (total project)
   (PQB4) Age-cancer interplay of genome and epi-genome in human lung The goals of this project are to associate genetic variants with epigenomic variation in the normal lung tissue of aging smokers.
   Role: PI
4. (Barzilai)
   No Salary Support
   The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research
   $297,700/yr
   The Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Human Aging
   This award is to support research into the basic biology of normal aging with the objective of developing interventions to delay its onset and progression thereby extending the healthy years of human life.
   Role: Co-Project Leader
5. (Suh)
   10/01/12-09/30/16
   No salary support
   AmorePacific
   $90,909/yr
   A Functional Genomics Approach to Elucidate the Molecular Mechanisms of Syringaresinol on Aging and Aging-Related Disease
   The major goals of this project are to identify the precise molecular mechanisms by syringaresinol activates SIRT1 gene expression and prove its anti-aging effects, to identify the molecular endpoints that are relevant to cell aging and to publish the results in high-profile journals to establish a convincing scientific basis for syringaresinol product development.
   Role: PI
6. (Suh)
   06/01/13-12/31/15
   Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
   $89,952/yr
   The Role of MicroRNA in Muscle Aging
   The major goals of this project is to understand microRNA gene regulatory networks in muscle aging, to modulate muscle aging phenotypes by miRNAs, to provide non-invasive biomarkers for muscle aging and frailty and to explore miRNA therapeutics for age-related muscle wasting/frailty.
   Role: PI