Research Fields:

· Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

· Tissue Engineering

· Translational Medical Research

· Organoids and Precision Medicine

Major Achievements

Professor Wang Yanfang has long been committed to promoting interdisciplinary research in stem cell lineage differentiation and tissue-engineered liver, the construction of organoid disease models, and their applications in precision diagnosis and treatment, regenerative medicine, and target discovery for new drug development.

· Stem Cells & Liver Regeneration:
Addressing major clinical needs in liver and metabolic diseases, she developed small molecule-based lineage reprogramming and first established multipotent endodermal stem cells. She systematically characterized their differentiation into functional hepatocytes, islet cells, and intestinal epithelial cells, along with their molecular signatures. She also identified peribiliary glands as a novel reserve of pluripotent endodermal stem cells, opening new avenues for adult stem cell applications in cell therapy and tissue engineering.

· Tissue Microenvironment Regulation:
She elucidated that tight junction- and gap junction-mediated cell–cell interactions underpin 3D organized tissue culture. She developed a proprietary decellularization technology to efficiently generate decellularized organ matrix scaffolds, laying the foundation for engineering tissues with defined architecture and vascular supply.

· Organoid Biology & Applications:
At the forefront of organoid research, she established a biobank covering 5 organs, over 20 diseases, and more than 2,000 samples. She led the release of four group standards for hepatobiliary organoid construction, quality control, and preservation. Based on this, she successfully constructed 3D organoid models for fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, hepatobiliary tumors, and rare diseases, as well as recellularized tissue-engineered livers and humanized liver mouse models. She established a multi-platform drug screening and toxicity evaluation system integrating high-content screening, microfluidics, and mass spectrometry. She also developed organoid intelligent management software and the DeepHCA platform, leveraging computer vision and AI to enable integrated “model-data-decision” workflows.

· Clinical Translation:
She led the development of standard operating procedures and evaluation systems for safety, efficacy, and controllability in stem cell therapies, addressing key bottlenecks in stem cell preparation and quality control. Collectively, her work has established theoretical and applied foundations for the clinical translation of tissue-engineered livers and significantly advanced stem cell and regenerative medicine, organoid-based precision diagnostics and therapeutics, and new drug discovery.

1. Wang M, Wang Q, Liu Y, Xu J, Su Y, Bai H*, Wang Y*, Dong J*. Modern xenotransplantation: rewiring glycan-mediated immunogenicity via genome-glycome convergence. EBioMedicine. 2026 Jan;123:106109.

2.  Zhang L, Wang X, Wang S, Ma Y, Cao Y, Zhang X, Lu Y, Wang S, Wang Y*. Lineage tracing technology for decoding cell evolution in pathophysiology: a bibliometric analysis. Int J Surg. 2026. Feb 1;112(2):4826-4839.

3. Li J, Wang S, Yuan J, Mao X, Wang X, Zhang L, Dong Q, Chen Z, Wang Y*, Tang N*. Tissue regeneration: Unraveling strategies for resolving pathological fibrosis. Cell Stem Cell. 2025 Nov 6;32(11):1639-1658.

4. Liu J, Wang Q, Le Y, Hu M, Li C, An N, Song Q, Yin W, Ma W, Pan M, Feng Y, Wang Y*, Han L*, Liu J*. 3D-Bioprinting for Precision Microtissue Engineering: Advances, Applications, and Prospects. Adv Healthc Mater. 2025 Apr;14(10):e2403781.

5. Le Y, Long T, Wang Q, Tang M, Pan M, Song Q, Ma W, Su Y, Wang Y*. Three-dimensional bioprinting in human-relevant toxicology: Advanced organ models and translational strategies. Int J Bioprint. 2025;11(4):99-132.

6. Wang Q, Liu J, Yang M, Zhou J, Li Y, Zheng J, Jia H, Yue S, Le Y, Su Y, Ma W, An N, Wang Y*, Dong J*. Targeting AKR1B1 inhibits metabolic reprogramming to reverse systemic therapy resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2025 Aug 1;10(1):244.

7. Liu J, Wang Q, Chen H, Yin W, Diao J, Ma W, Su Y, Le Y, Jin B, Dong J*, Wang Y*. Construction of region-specific liver organoid and fabrication of hierarchical functional liver lobule for liver disease modeling and drug evaluation. Sci Bull (Beijing). 2025 Dec 15;70(23):3973-3977.

8. Song W, Wang M, Kong S, Liu Y, Yan X*, Bai H*, Wang Y*.  Primary Cilia: Hub of Cell Signal Transduction and Emerging Role in Digestive System Tumorigenesis. Cell Biochem Funct. 2025 Jul;43(7):e70102.

9. Chen Z#, Chen YA#, Wang X#, Song W#, Geng Y, Wang P, Kong S, Dong J*, Bai H*, Wang Y*. Heterotaxy polysplenia syndrome with cholangiopancreatic cancer: a case report and literature review. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Jun 9;12:1537227.

10. Liu J#, Song Q#, Li C, Yan J, An N, Yin W, Diao J, Su Y, Wang Y*. Deciphering Age-Dependent ECM Remodeling in Liver: Proteomic Profiling and Its Implications for Aging and Therapeutic Targets. Cell Prolif. 2025 Sep;58(9):e70087.

11. Liu J, Hanson A, Yin W, Wu Q, Wauthier E, Diao J, Dinh T, Macdonald J, Li R, Terajima M, Yamauchi M, Chen Z, Sethupathy P, Dong J, Reid LM2, Wang Y2. Decellularized liver scaffolds for constructing drug-metabolically functional ex vivo human liver models. Bioactive Materials. 2024 Sep 23;43:162-180.

12. Wu Y#, Fan Y#, Miao Y#, Li Y, Du G, Chen Z, Diao J, Chen YA, Ye M, You R, Chen A, Chen Y, Li W, Guo W, Dong J, Zhang X, Wang Y*, Gu J*. uniLIVER: a human liver cell atlas for data-driven cellular state mapping. J Genet Genomics. 2025. Sep;52(9):1133-1147.

13. Geng Y, Chen Z, Luo T, Liu Y, Kong S, Yan X*, Bai H*, Wang Y*. Innovative construction and application of bile duct organoids: Unraveling the complexity of bile duct diseases and potential therapeutic strategies. Cancer Lett. 2025. May 28 ;618:217619.

14. Feng Y, Wang Q, Su Y, Ma W, Du G, Wu J*, Liu J*, Wang Y*. Application of artificial intelligence-based computer vision methods in liver diseases: a bibliometric analysis. Intelligent Medicine. 2025,5, 111–122.

15. .Hu Y, Du G, Li C, Wang R, Liu J*, Wang Y*, Dong J*. EGFR-mediated crosstalk between vascular endothelial cells and hepatocytes promotes Piezo1-dependent liver regeneration. Genes Dis. 2024 May 8;12(3):101321.

16. Wang S#, Wang X#, Shan Y, Tan Z, Su Y, Cao Y, Wang S, Dong J, Gu J*, Wang Y*. Region-specific cellular and molecular basis of liver regeneration after acute pericentral injury. Cell Stem Cell. 2024 Mar 7; 31(3):341-358.e7.

17. Wang Q#, Liu J#, Chen Z, Zheng J, Wang Y*, Dong J*. Targeting metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma to overcome therapeutic resistance: A comprehensive review. Biomed Pharmacother. 2024 Jan;170:116021.

18. Aging Biomarker Consortium, Jiang M#, Zheng Z#, Wang X#, Chen Y#, Qu J*, Ding Q*, Zhang W*, Liu YS*, Yang J*, Tang W*, Hou Y*, He J*, Wang L*, Huang P*, Li LC*, He Z*, Gao Q*, Lu Q*, Wei L*, Wang YJ*, Ju Z*, Fan JG*, Ruan XZ*, Guan Y*, Liu GH*, Pei G*, Li J*, Wang Y*. A biomarker framework for liver aging: the Aging Biomarker Consortium consensus statement. Life Med. 2024 Jan 30;3(1):lnae004.

19. Liu J#, Song Q#, Yin W, Li C, An N, Le Y, Wang Q, Feng Y, Hu Y, Wang Y*. Bioactive scaffolds for tissue engineering: A review of decellularized extracellular matrix applications and innovations. Exploration (Beijing). 2024 Apr 11;5(1):20230078.

20. Wang S1, Wang X1, Wang Y2. The Progress and Promise of Lineage Reprogramming Strategies for Liver Regeneration. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024; 18(6): 101395. doi:10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024. Epub 2024 Aug 30.PMID: 39218152  Review.

21. Li C, An N, Song Q, Hu Y, Yin W, Wang Q, Le Y, Pan W, Yan X, Wang Y*, Liu J*. Enhancing organoid culture: harnessing the potential of decellularized extracellular matrix hydrogels for mimicking microenvironments. Journal of Biomedical Science. 2024 27; 31(1):96.

22. Jia H#, Liu J#, Fang T, Zhou Z, Li R, Yin W, Qian Y, Wang Q, Zhou W, Liu C, Sun D, Chen X, Ouyang Z, Dong J, Wang Y*, Yue S*. The role of altered lipid composition and distribution in liver fibrosis revealed by multimodal nonlinear optical microscopy. Sci Adv. 2023 Jan 13; 9(2):eabq2937.

23. Aging Biomarker Consortium; Bao H#, Cao J#,  Chen M#, Chen M#, Chen W#, Chen X#, Chen Y#, Chen Y#, Chen Y#, Chen Z#, Chhetri JK#, Ding Y#, Feng J#, Guo J#, Guo M#, He C#, Jia Y#, Jiang H#, Jing Y#, Li D#, Li J#, Li J#, Liang Q#, Liang R#, Liu F#, Liu X#, Liu Z#, Luo OJ#, Lv J#, Ma J#, Mao K#, Nie J#, Qiao X#, Sun X#, Tang X#, Wang J#, Wang Q#,  Wang S#, Wang X#, Wang Y#, Wang Y#, Wu R#, Xia K#, Xiao FH#, Xu L#, Xu Y#, Yan H#, Yang L#, Yang R#, Yang Y#, Ying Y#, Zhang L#, Zhang W#, Zhang W#, Zhang X#, Zhang Z#, Zhou M#, Zhou R#, Zhu Q#, Zhu Z#, Cao F*, Cao Z*, Chan P*, Chen C*, Chen G*, Chen HZ*, Chen J*, Ci W*, Ding BS*, Ding Q*, Gao F*, Han JJ*, Huang Kv, Ju Z*, Kong QP*, Li J*, Li J*, Li X*, Liu B*, Liu F*, Liu L*, Liu Q*, Liu Q*, Liu X*, Liu **, Luo X*, Ma S*, Ma X*, Mao Z*, Nie J*, Peng Y*, Qu J*, Ren J*, Ren R*, Song M*, Songyang Z*, Sun YE*, Sun Y*, Tian M*, Wang S*, Wang S*, Wang X*, Wang X*, Wang YJ*, Wang Y*, Wong CCL*, Xiang AP*, Xiao Y*, Xie Z*, Xu D*, Ye J*, Yue R*, Zhang C*, Zhang H*, Zhang L*, Zhang W*, Zhang Y*, Zhang YW*, Zhang Z*, Zhao T*, Zhao Y*, Zhu D*, Zou W*, Pei G*, Liu GH*. Biomarkers of aging. Sci China Life Sci. 2023 May;66(5):893-1066.

24. Hu Y, Wang R, Liu J*, Wang Y*, Dong J*. Lipid droplet deposition in the regenerating liver: A promoter, inhibitor, or bystander? Hepatol Commun. 2023 Sep 15;7(10):e0267.

25. Wang Q#, Liu J#, Yin W, Wang A, Zheng J, Wang Y*, Dong J*. Microscale Tissue Engineering of Liver Lobule Models: Advancements and Applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023 Dec 8;11:1303053.

26. Hu Y#, Wang R#, An N, Li C, Wang Q, Cao Y, Li C, Liu J*, Wang Y*. Unveiling the power of microenvironment in liver regeneration: an in-depth overview. Front Genet. 2023 Dec 13;14:1332190.

27. Li R, Liu J, Ma J, Sun X, Wang Y, Yan J, Yu Q, Diao J, Yang C, Reid LM, Wang Y*. Fibrinogen improves liver function via promoting cell aggregation and fibronectin assembly in hepatic spheroids. Biomaterials. 2022 Jan:280:121266.

28. Liu J#, Li R#, Zhang T, Xue R, Li T, Li Z, Zhuang X, Wang Q&, Chen YA, Dong J, Zhang Y, Wang Y*. High-content imaging of human hepatic spheroids for researching the mechanism of duloxetine-induced hepatotoxicity. Cell Death Dis. 2022 Aug 1;13(8):669.

29. Wang Q#, Liu J#, Yin W, Sun D, Man Z, Jiang S, Ran X, Su Y, Wang Y*, Dong J*. Generation of multicellular tumor spheroids with micro-well array for anticancer drug combination screening based on a valuable biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022 Dec 1;10:1087656.

30. Sun D, Liu J, Wang Y*, Dong J*. Co-administration of MDR1 and BCRP or EGFR/PI3K inhibitors overcomes lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol. 2022 Sep 8;12:944537.

31. Liu J#, Li T#, Li R, Wang J, Li P, Niu M, Zhang L, Li C, Wang T, Xiao X, Wang JB*, Wang Y*. Hepatic Organoid-Based High-Content Imaging Boosts Evaluation of Stereoisomerism-Dependent Hepatotoxicity of Stilbenes in Herbal Medicines. Front Pharmacol. 2022 May 17:13:862830.

32. Bai Z#, Guo Z#, Liu J, Chen YA, Lu Q, Zhang P, Hong L, Wang Y*, Dong J*. Lapatinib Suppresses HER2-Overexpressed Cholangiocarcinoma and Overcomes ABCB1-Mediated Gemcitabine Chemoresistance. Front Oncol. 2022 Apr 8:12:860339.

33. Wang X#, Wang S#, Guo B#, Su Y, Tan Z, Chang M, Diao J, Zhao Y*, Wang Y*. Human primary epidermal organoids enable modeling of dermatophyte infections. Cell Death Dis. 2021 Jan 4;12(1):35.

34. Organoid Construction and Applications: From Fundamentals to Frontiers, edited by Wang Yunfang and Zhang Donghui, Tsinghua University Press, 2026

35. Organoid Biology, edited by Wang Yunfang and Lin Xinhua, Science Press, 2025

36. Liver Biology and Pathobiology, translated by Dong Jiahong and Wang Yunfang (chief translators), China Science and Technology Press, 2024

Academic Honors and Awards

1. 2025 – Outstanding Achievement Award, 19th Pharmaceutical Development Award

2. 2025 – Inductee, Beijing High-Level Talent Support Program: "Capital High-Level Leading Talent Cultivation Project"; Beijing Nova Program for Science and Technology

3. 2025 – First Prize, Science and Technology Innovation Award, 5th Science and Technology Promotion Award of the China Association for the Promotion of Science and Technology Industrialization

4. 2024 – First Prize, Standards Innovation Award, 4th Science and Technology Promotion Award of the China Association for the Promotion of Science and Technology Industrialization

5. 2023 – Recipient of the State Council Special Government Allowance

6. 2022 – Inductee, Beijing Municipal Health Commission High-Level Public Health Technical Leading Talent Program

7. 2021 – China Alternative Methods in Toxicology Development Award

8. 2020 – Inductee, National "Ten Thousand Talents Program" (National High-Level Talents Special Support Plan); Recipient of the "Young and Middle-Aged Scientists with Outstanding Contributions" title

9. 2019 – Inductee, "Peak Program" of Beijing Hospitals Authority

10. 2018 – First Prize, Science and Technology Progress Award of the People's Liberation Army (4/10) – Development of Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Technology and Its Application in Military Medicine

11. 2018 – Inductee, Beijing Nova Program for Science and Technology

12. 2016 – Top Talent, High-Level Science and Technology Innovation Talent Project of the People's Liberation Army

13. 2015 – Top Talent, Science and Technology Innovation Strategy Project of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences; Excellent Teacher, Academy of Military Medical Sciences

14. 2014 – First Prize, Beijing Science and Technology Award (8/15) – Mechanisms of Microenvironment-Regulated Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation and Applied Basic Research

15. 2011 – AMMS Excellent Talent Award; Major Scientific and Technological Achievement Award of the PLA Logistics Department during the 11th Five-Year Plan period

16. 2009 – Second Prize, Hebei Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award – Basic and Clinical Study on Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation for Ischemic Disease of Lower Limbs

17. 2009 – Second Prize, Science and Technology Progress Award of the Armed Police Force – Preclinical Study on Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Myocardial Infarction

18. 2007 – Second Prize, National Science and Technology Progress Award (3/10) – Applied Basic Research on Adult Stem Cell Plasticity and Its Application in War Injury Treatment and Rehabilitation

19. 2005 – Class A Talent, Beijing Nova Program for Science and Technology

Technical Patents

International Patent

1. Method of treating pancreatic and liver conditions by endoscopic-mediated (or laparoscopic-mediated) transplantation of stem cells into/onto bile duct walls of particular regions of the biliary tree,United States, US 9533013 B2，2017.01.03,

2. Biomatrix scaffolds，United States，US 8802081 B2，2014.8.12

3. Biomatrix scaffolds for industrial dispersal，United States，US 9102913 B2，2015.8.11

4. Multipotent stem cells from the extrahepatic biliary tree and methods of isolating same. United States，US 2011/0135610 A1，2011.6.9,

5. Small molecule compound combination for reprogramming digestive tract derived epithelial cells to endodermal stem/progenitor cells, reprogramming method and application.PCT/CN2017/086336；United States，US 1131493253 B2，2021.9.19,；Europe, EP 3 483 262 B1，2021.11.17； Japan，7005528，2022.1.7

Domestic Patent

1. Utility Model – Wax block embedding cassette, storage drawer of intelligent wax block cabinet, and intelligent wax block cabinet, ZL202421307108.0, Apr. 18, 2025

2. Design – Embedding cassette, ZL202430350286.0, Mar. 18, 2025

3. Invention – Endothelial cell line overexpressing DLL4 gene, method for constructing the same, and application thereof, ZL202210044733.X, May 14, 2024

4. Invention – Cell modified with specific heparan sulfate-modifying enzyme gene, method for constructing the same, and application thereof, ZL202210601743.9, Jan. 19, 2024

5. Invention – Pharmaceutical composition and use thereof in reversing lenvatinib resistance, ZL202210952677.X, Jan. 12, 2024

6. Invention – In vitro model for dermatophyte infection, method for establishing the same, and application thereof, ZL202011466649.4, Sep. 1, 2023

7. Invention – Method for isolating and culturing sweat gland cells to obtain sweat gland organoids, and application thereof, ZL201910175914.4, Jun. 23, 2023

8. Invention – Method for inducing functional hepatocytes, dedicated three-dimensional induction medium, and application thereof, ZL201910910755.8, Aug. 23, 2022

9. Invention – Method for subculturing endodermal stem/progenitor cells reprogrammed from gastrointestinal epithelial cells, and application thereof, ZL202110032459.X, Jun. 28, 2022

10. Invention – Method for establishing an in vitro liver disease model and dedicated three-dimensional culture medium therefor, ZL201910911331.3, Apr. 29, 2022

11. Invention – Tissue-engineered liver model, method for constructing the same, and application thereof, ZL201810650894.7, Jun. 22, 2021

12. Invention – Micro-liver tissue culture model, method for constructing the same, and application thereof, ZL201810651503.3, Apr. 16, 2021

13. Invention – Small molecule compound combination for reprogramming gastrointestinal epithelial cells into endodermal stem/progenitor cells, and reprogramming kit, ZL201710389705.0, Feb. 2, 2021

14. Invention – Method for reprogramming gastrointestinal epithelial cells into endodermal stem/progenitor cells, and application thereof, ZL201710389711.6, Jan. 29, 2021

15. Invention – Enzyme- and temperature-dual-responsive drug-loaded hydrogel and preparation thereof, ZL201710196525.0, Sep. 22, 2020

Group Standards

1. Technical Standard for Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity Evaluation Based on Human Liver Organoids, T/CRHA052—2024

2. Guidelines for Construction, Quality Control, and Preservation of Human Biliary Epithelial Tissue Organoids, T/CRHA019-2023

3. Guidelines for Construction, Quality Control, and Preservation of Human Hepatobiliary Tumor Organoids, T/CRHA018-2023

4. Guidelines for Construction, Quality Control, and Preservation of Human Hepatic Progenitor Organoids, T/CRHA017-2023

Software Copyrights

1. Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital Tissue Sample Management System [abbreviated as: Tissue Sample Management System] V2.0, Date of Completion: November 22, 2023; Registration No.: 2025SR0054244; Date of Authorization: January 29, 2025

2. Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital Tissue Sample Management System [abbreviated as: Tissue Sample Management System] V1.0, Date of Completion: March 15, 2022; Registration No.: 2023SR1150386; Date of Authorization: September 25, 2023

3. Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital Histology Electronic Archives Management System Software [abbreviated as: Electronic Archives Management System] V1.0, Date of Completion: February 10, 2022; Registration No.: 2023SR0921080; Date of Authorization: August 11, 2023

4. Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital Aogeng’an Organoid Management System [abbreviated as: OLB] V1.0, Date of Completion: December 1, 2021; Registration No.: 2022SR1410345; Date of Authorization: October 24, 2022

Courses Offered