Andy Yang

PhD Student at @angerslab | Stem Cell Differentiation and Wnt Pathway

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

Thrilled to share our recent work published in @Dev_journal from my PhD at @angerslab. This research introduces a novel approach by using Wnt receptor antibodies to understand neural patterning and enhance the differentiation of hPSCs into DA neurons.📰🧵https://t.co/qpnZvKCAZ9

[Rony Chidiac @chidiacrony]

🎉 Excited to share our latest work in @stemcellreports! This marks the final chapter of my postdoc in the @angerslab. https://t.co/XVM4X17CLZ
🧬✨ We show how individual Frizzled receptors regulate Wnt-β-catenin signaling kinetics in hPSCs, influencing mesoderm commitment🧵1/n

[Temerty Medicine @uoftmedicine]

Researchers at #TemertyMed & @DonnellyCentre found a way to better control the preclinical generation of key neurons depleted in Parkinson’s disease https://t.co/rzdR4KapIA

[Development @Dev_journal]

Read the Research Article "Exploiting spatiotemporal regulation of FZD5 during neural patterning for efficient ventral midbrain specification" here:

https://t.co/l705vn2wBS

[Development @Dev_journal]

Targeting FZD5 to promote midbrain patterning

Read this Research Highlight showcasing work from Andy Yang @DeAndyYang, Stephane Angers @StephAngers and colleagues @UofT:

https://t.co/m7it5gWFP3

[Development @Dev_journal]

To find out more about the story behind the paper, we caught up with first author Andy Yang @DeAndyYang, and corresponding author Stephane Angers @StephAngers:

https://t.co/B0IRkPk6KI

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

We'd also like to thank the editorial team at @Dev_journal and the reviewers for their comments. Our work is featured as a research highlight in the upcoming issue. Additionally, they conducted a Q&A interview with me and @StephAngers 👨‍🔬 (12/12) https://t.co/piauJyKzcw

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

The F5L6.13-derived ventral midbrain progenitors give rise to functional DA neurons in vitro and rescue the motor dysfunction when engrafted in the 6-OHDA hemi-lesion animal model of Parkinson's (7/12)

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

This work was the result of a collaborative effort. Heartfelt thanks to @chidiacrony & @StephAngers, and the teams of @SalahpourAli, @rpbonin, @SachdevSidhu at @UofT @DonnellyCentre, and Dr. Aleks Goeva at @broadinstitute for their invaluable contributions and insights (11/12)

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

Given the early upregulation of FZD5 during neural induction, we utilized a tailored synthetic growth factor, F5L6.13, targeting the FZD5:LRP6 receptor complex to activate Wnt signaling. This approach effectively induces midbrain patterning from hPSCs, replacing GSK3i (6/12)

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

Thrilled to share our recent work published in @Dev_journal from my PhD at @angerslab. This research introduces a novel approach by using Wnt receptor antibodies to understand neural patterning and enhance the differentiation of hPSCs into DA neurons.📰🧵https://t.co/qpnZvKCAZ9

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

Using CRISPR screen in hPSC differentiation, we found that FZD5 expression is dependent on the forebrain regulators OTX2 & LDB1. This discovery highlights a novel regulatory mechanism of Wnt receptor expression, and may be forming a feedback loop for regional specification (5/12)

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

We discovered that FZD5 is not expressed in the pluripotent state, but it is upregulated in anterior progenitors and dynamically downregulated in NPC adopting a posterior fate. (4/12)

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

Leveraging our previously developed selective Wnt receptor antibodies , we characterized the cell surface expression of FZD receptors in hPSC-derived neural progenitor cells with different regional identity 🧠(3/12)

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

We aimed to tackle some gaps in hPSC differentiation protocols. Current methods use GSK3 inhibitors for Wnt activation, missing receptor-level specificity and regulation. GSK3 also plays in multiple pathways. The roles of FZD receptors in neural patterning are also unclear (2/12)

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

@DrHanieYousefi @angerslab Thanks Hanie!! 🤗

[Andy Yang @DeAndyYang]

From a new PhD student at a Gordon conference on Wnt signalling in Vermont four years ago to presenting my own research and sharing the stage with world-class minds like Hans Clevers in Barcelona, this journey is a blend of hard work and true inspiration. 🧑‍🔬🤓 #Wnt @angerslab

[Rony Chidiac @chidiacrony]

📢Calling all Wnt trainees🌎 Applications for the GRS on Wnt signaling is open! #Wnt_GRS2023 is scheduled for July 29-30, 2023 in Spain. Plenty of short talks to be selected from abstracts. Fantastic program by the associated GRC https://t.co/3s3PQefVYG