Dr. Pengyu Huang received his BS degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2008, and was accepted into the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in the same year. During his Ph.D. study, he won the Special Prize of President Scholarship (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Ray Wu Prize, and was selected as a JSPS Hope Fellow. In 2011 he established a novel method to directly convert mouse fibroblasts to hepatocytes in vitro, which was selected as one of the China's Top 10 Scientific and Technological Advances of 2011. In 2013 he received his Ph.D. degree in cell biology, and then worked as research associate in Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. In 2014 he established the method of direct conversion of human fibroblasts to hepatocytes, and he joined the School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, as an assistant professor (tenure track), PI in 2014.

1. Regulation of hepatocyte death and proliferation during liver diseases and liver regeneration Hepatocyte death induced by toxicants, hepatitis viruses and metabolic disorder could cause acute and chronic liver injury, and even liver failure. In most cases, recovery from liver injury largely dependents on compensatory hepatocyte proliferation. However, uncontrolled hepatocyte proliferation often leads to liver cancer. In our lab, we are focusing on the regulation of hepatocyte death, mechanisms of compensatory hepatocyte proliferation, and mechanism of hepatocellular carcinogenesis induced by chronic liver injuries. 2. Biogenesis and modification of small RNAs in the liver Small RNAs, such as miRNAs, piRNAs and tsRNAs, as well as their derivatives, regulate liver regeneration, liver metabolic diseases and liver cancer development. However, lack of study tools limits the study of small RNAs. Here, we are developing new methods to study the biogenesis, modification and functions of small RNAs in the liver.