Sunyoung Lee

Sunyoung Lee, Ph.D.[La Jolla]

  • Research

    Dr. Lee focuses on understanding the role of genetic factors and environmental cues in endothelial cell biology and vascular morphogenesis.

  • Biography

    Dr. Lee earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from University of Southern California.

Sunyoung Lee's Research Focus

By using transgenic/knock-out mice as model systems, we aim to understand the role of genetic factors and environmental cues in endothelial cell biology, vascular morphogenesis and their connection with human diseases. Particularly, we focus on the biology of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptors and their interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM) in both physiological and pathological vascular morphogenesis and disease progression. VEGF signaling is essential for specification, morphogenesis, differentiation and homeostasis of vessels both in the embryo and in the adult. Furthermore, this signaling pathway is an integral component of pathological angiogenesis including retinopathies, arthritis, and tumor expansion. Consequently, VEGF has remained one of the most pivotal growth factors for therapeutic exploitation. We are currently dissecting paracrine vs. autocrine VEGF-VEGF receptor signaling in endothelial cells, investigating the intriguing interplay between VEGF and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and, studying the role of autocrine VEGF signaling in organogenesis and hematopoiesis during development.
 

About Sunyoung Lee

Experience

Sunyoung Lee earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from University of Southern California. Sunyoung was a postdoctoral fellow from 2001-2007 at the University of California, Los Angeles in the laboratory of Dr. Luisa Iruela-Arispe. From 2007-2008, Sunyoung was an assistant researcher at UCLA. Dr. Lee was recruited to Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in 2008.

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Education

Ph.D., Yonsei University, Seoul, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, 2000
B.S., Yonsei University, Seoul, Biochemistry, 1989

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