Prof. Chin received her Bachelor of Technology's degree (Biomedical Science) with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She completed her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology with Marshall Horwitz at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York) in 2006. With a postdoctoral fellowship from Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation, Prof. Chin studied the signal transduction events that drive breast cancer metastasis with Alex Toker at Harvard Medical School (HMS). In 2013, she began her career as an Assistant Professor at HMS. Prof. Chin joined the City University of Hong Kong in 2016. Her research work has garnered more than 3100 citations (Google Scholar).

Prof. Chin is a recipient of a 2015 V Scholar Award. She was named an Albert Wyrick Scholar, which recognizes young scientists who pioneer techniques to make breakthroughs in cancer research. Rebecca also received the Howard Temin Pathway to Independence Award (NIH K99) and the National Science Fund for Young Scholar (NSFC).

Research Interests

The major goal of our lab is to elucidate signaling pathways perturbed by genetic and epigenetic alterations in breast cancer, with an emphasis on precision medicine and the identification of novel targets for synthetic lethality strategy. We are particularly interested in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive form of breast cancer with poor prognosis. Another major area of our investigation is to explore how PI3K/Akt pathway contributes to therapeutic resistance. The approaches that we are taking including live-cell signaling dynamics, high-throughput proteomics, 3D co-culture system and bioinformatics. The ultimate goal of our research is to develop more effective therapies with lower toxicity for cancer patients.

Current Projects

• Functional characterization of super-enhancers in driving expression of TNBC-specific cancer genes
• Leveraging epigenetic landscape to identify novel players in TNBC
• Combinatorial approaches for pinpointing vulnerabilities of different subtypes of TNBC
• PI3K/Akt pathway in therapeutic resistance
• in vivo models and 3D co-cultures for uncovering TNBC brain metastasis mechanisms

More information can be found at Prof. Chin’s lab website.

Position Available

We are looking for talented postdocs, graduate students and research assistants to join our group. If you are creative, enthusiastic, persevere and self-driven, we would like you to be part of our team.

Applicants of PhD program should:

1. have a Master’s degree in molecular biology / cell biology or related disciplines;
2. be able to work independently and in a team; with fluent English;
3. have strong research experience (publication record is highly desirable)

PhD candidates are encouraged to apply through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, Department of Biomedical Sciences PhD programme or the Interdisciplinary Programme in Veterinary Science. Interested candidates should send a statement of interest and CV to rebecca.chin@cityu.edu.hk.

Publications (* corresponding author)

• TNA-Mediated Antisense Strategy to Knockdown Akt Genes for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy.
  Li P, Zheng S, Leung HM, Liu LS, Chang TJH, Maryam A, Wang F*, Chin YR*, Lo PK*. Small Methods, Published online (2024)
• Light-activated nanodiamond-based drug delivery systems for spatiotemporal release of antisense oligonucleotides.
  Leung HM, Liu LS, Cai Y, Li X, Huang Y, Chu HC, Chin YR, Lo PK. Bioconjugate Chemistry, Published online (2024)
• An integrated and multi-functional droplet-based microfluidic platform for digital DNA amplification.
  Wang Y, Zhou X, Yang Z, Xu T, Fu H, Fong C-C, Sun J, Chin YR, Zhang L, Guan X, Yang M. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 246:115831 (2024)
• Akt3 promotes cancer stemness in triple-negative breast cancer through YB1-Snail/Slug signaling axis.
  Tian Y, Li J, Cheung TC, Tam V, Lau CG, Wang X, Chin YR*. Genes & Diseases, 10:301 (2023)
• High throughput confined migration microfluidic device for drug screening.
  Yang Z, Zhou Z, Si T, Zhou Z, Zhou L, Chin YR, Zhang L, Guan X, Yang M. Small, 19:e2207194 (2023)
• Three-dimensional Biomimetic Models to Reconstitute Tumor Microenvironment In Vitro: Spheroids, Organoids, and Tumor-on-a-chip.
  Li W, Zhou Z, Zhou X, Khoo BL, Gunawan R, Chin YR, Zhang L, Yi C, Guan X, Yang M. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 12:2202609 (2023)
• Upregulation of receptor tyrosine kinase activity and stemness as resistance mechanisms to Akt inhibitors in breast cancer.
  Tsang T, He Q, Cohen EB, Stottrup C, Lien EC, Zhang H, Lau CG*, Chin YR*. Cancers, Published online (2022)
• TCOF1 upregulation in triple-negative breast cancer promotes stemness and tumor growth, and correlates with poor prognosis.
  Hu JY, Lai Y, Huang H, Ramakrishnan S, Pan Y, Ma VW, Cheuk W, So GY, He Q, Lau CG, Zhang L, Cho WC, Chan KM, Wang X, Chin YR*.
  Br J Cancer, 126:57-71 (2022) PMID: 34718356
• Cellular Update, Tissue Penetration, Biodistribution, and Biosafety of Threose Nucleic Acids: Assessing In Vitro and In Vivo Delivery.
  Wang F, Liu LS, Lau CH, Leung HM, Chin YR, Tin C, Lo PK.
  Materials Today Bio, 15:100299 (2022) PMID: 35637854
• Defining super-enhancer landscape in triple-negative breast cancer by multiomic profiling.
  Huang H, Hu JY, Maryam A, Huang QH, Zhang YC, Ramakrishnan S, Li JY, Ma HY, Ma VW, Cheuk W, So GY, Wang W, Cho WC, Zhang L, Chan KM, Wang X *, Chin YR*.
  Nat Commun, 12:2242 (2021) PMID: 33854062
  • Featured in a press release on the CityU website
  • Featured in Nature Portfolio Cancer Community
  • Media coverage as news stories from 12 outlets (AAAS EurekAlert, News Medical, Medical Press, Bioengineer.org, Technology networks, Infosurhoy, ScienMag, Hong Kong Economic Times, PChome News, LIFE TW, Taiwan News, eCancer)
• ANLN enhances triple-negative breast cancer stemness through TWIST1 and BMP2 and promotes its spheroid growth.
  Maryam A, Chin YR*.
  Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 8:1-10 (2021) PMID: 34277708
• Cancer stem cells: advances in biology and clinical translation-a Keystone Symposia report.
  Cable J, Pei D, Reid LM, Wang XW, Bhatia S, Karras P, Melenhorst JJ, Grompe M, Lathia JD, Song E, Kuo KJ, Zhang N, White RM, Ma SK, Ma L, Chin YR, Shen MM, Ng IO, Kaestner KH, Zhou L, Sikandar S, Schmitt CA, Guo W, Wong CC, Ji J, Tang DG, Dubrovska A, Yang C, Wiedemeyer WR, Weissman IL.
  Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1506:142-163 (2021) PMID: 34850398
• Upregulation of Akt3 confers resistance to Akt inhibitors in breast cancer.
  Stottrup C, Tsang T, Chin YR*.
  Mol Cancer Ther, 15:1964 (2016) PMID: 27297869
• PtdIns(3,4,5)P3-dependent activation of the mTORC2 kinase complex.
  Liu P, Gan W, Chin YR, Ogura K, Guo J, Zhang J, Wang B, Blenis J, Cantley LC, Toker A, Su B, Wei W.
  Cancer Discov, 5:1194 (2015) PMID: 26293922
• PTEN-deficient tumors depend on Akt2 for maintenance and survival.
  Chin YR, Yuan X, Balk SP, Toker A.
  Cancer Discov, 4:942 (2014) PMID: 24838891
  • Cover image of Cancer Discov Vol. 4, Num. 8 issue
• Targeting Akt3 signaling in triple-negative breast cancer.
  Chin YR, Yoshida T, Marusyk A, Beck AH, Polyak K, Toker A.
  Can Res, 74:964 (2014) PMID: 24335962
  • Highlighted as a Very Good finding by Arthur Mercurio: F1000Prime Biology
• Akt-ing up on SRPK1: Oncogene or tumor suppressor?
  Toker A, Chin YR*.
  Mol Cell, 54:329 (2014) PMID: 24813709
• RhoB differentially controls Akt function in tumor cells and stromal endothelial cells during breast tumorigenesis.
  Kazerounian S, Gerald D, Huang M, Chin YR, Udayakumar D, Zheng N, Oí’Donnell RK, Perruzzi C, Mangiante L, Pourat J, Phung T, Bravo-Nuevo A, Shechter S, McNamara S, DuHadaway J, Kocher ON, Brown L, Toker A, Prendergast GC and Benjamin LE.
  Can Res, 73:50 (2013) PMID: 23135917
• Acetylation-Dependent Regulation of Skp2 Function.
  Inuzuka H, Gao D, Finley L, Yang W, Wan L, Fukushima H, Chin YR, Zhai B, Shaik S, Lau AW, Wang Z, Gygi SP, Nakayama K, Teruya-Feldstein J, Toker A, Haigis MC, Pandolfi PP and Wei W.
  Cell, 150:179 (2012) PMID: 22770219
• mTOR drives its own activation via SCF(βTrCP)-dependent degradation of the mTOR inhibitor DEPTOR.
  Gao D, Inuzuka H, Tan MK, Fukushima H, Locasale JW, Liu P, Wan L, Zhai B, Chin YR, Shaik S, Lyssiotis CA, Gygi SP, Toker A, Cantley LC, Asara JM, Harper JW and Wei W.
  Mol Cell, 44:290 (2011) PMID: 22017875
• NFAT promotes carcinoma invasive migration through glypican-6.
  Yiu GK, Kaunisto A, Chin YR and Toker A.
  Biochem J, 440:157 (2011) PMID: 21871017
• Akt isoform-specific signaling in breast cancer: Uncovering an anti-migratory role for palladin.
  Chin YR* and Toker A.
  Cell Adh Migr, 5:211 (2011) PMID: 21519185
• The actin bundling protein palladin is an Akt1-specific substrate that regulates breast cancer cell migration.
  Chin YR and Toker A.
  Mol Cell, 38:333 (2010) PMID: 20471940
  • Featured in a press release on the Harvard Medical School BIDMC website
  • Featured in Breast Cancer Network News
  • Highlighted as a Must Read finding by Brendan Manning: Faculty of 1000 Biology
• Akt2 regulates expression of the actin-bundling protein palladin.
  Chin YR* and Toker A.
  FEBS Lett, 584:4769 (2010) PMID: 21050850
• Akt/Protein kinase B and glycogen synthase kinase-3β signaling pathway regulates cell migration through the NFAT1 transcription factor.
  Yoeli-Lerner M, Chin YR, Hansen CK, and Toker A.
  Mol Cancer Res, 7:425 (2009) PMID: 19258413
• Phosphorylation by Akt1 promotes cytoplasmic localization of Skp2 and impairs APC-Cdh1-mediated Skp2 destruction.
  Gao D, Inuzuka H, Tseng A, Chin RY, Toker A, and Wei W.
  Nat Cell Bio, 11:397 (2009) PMID: 19270695
• Function of Akt/PKB signaling to cell motility, invasion and the tumor stroma in cancer.
  Chin YR and Toker A.
  Cell Signal, 21:470 (2009) PMID: 19110052
• PDK1 potentiates upstream lesions on the PI3K pathway in breast carcinoma.
  Maurer M, Su T, Koujak S, Hopkins BD, Saal LH, Barkley CR, Wu J, Nandula S, Dutta B, Xie Y, Chin YR, Kim D, Ferris JS, Gruvberger-Saal SK, LaaksoM, Wang X, Memeo L, Rojtman A, Matos T, Yu JS, Cordon-Cardo C, Isola J, Terry MB, Toker A, Landry DW, Mills GB, Zhao JJ, Murty VV, Hibshoosh H, Parsons R.
  Can Res, 69:6299 (2009) PMID: 19602588
• The Adenovirus RID complex enhances degradation of internalized tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 without affecting its rate of endocytosis.
  Chin YR*, and Horwitz MS.
  J Gen Virol, 87:3161 (2006) PMID: 15542663
• Mechanism for removal of TNF receptor 1 from the cell surface by the Adenovirus RIDα/β complex.
  Chin YR*, and Horwitz MS.
  J Virol, 79:21 (2005) PMID: 16227281
• Inhibition of TNF signal transduction by the Adenovirus group C RID complex involves downregulation of surface levels of TNF receptor 1.
  Fessler SP, Chin YR, and Horwitz MS.
  J Virol, 78:23 (2004) PMID: 15542663
• High-throughput screening of potential inhibitors for the metabolism of the investigational anti-cancer drug 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid.
  Zho S, Chiang D, Chin R, Kestell P, Paxton JW.
  J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci., 767:19 (2002) PMID: 11863291
• Effects of anticancer drugs on the metabolism of the anticancer drug 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic (DMXAA) by human liver microsomes.
  Zhou S, Chin R, Kestell P, Tingle MD, Paxton JW.
  Br J Clin Pharmacol, 52:129. (2001) PMID: 11488768

21 August 2024