Christopher Cheng's Biography

Christopher Cheng, Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale University

Christopher Cheng received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale University in 2011 researching nanoscale delivery systems for cancer-targeted gene therapy. Specifically, he engineered surface-enhanced polymer nanoparticles to deliver agents (e.g. microRNA inhibitors, siRNA, and splicing blockers) that regulate the expression of genes that are involved in the onset and progression of cancer. Currently working with Frank Slack, Don Engelman, and Mark Saltzman at Yale, he is interested in understanding the molecular basis for how certain cancers can become addicted to the overexpression of oncogenic microRNAs, or oncomiRs. He is also continuing the development of novel technologies to antagonize microRNAs as therapeutic targets.