Yili Fang, MD, PhD, a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Ying Maggie Chen laboratory, has been awarded a prestigious 2025 American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellowship for his project “Develop a Biotherapeutic Protein to Treat Uromodulin-Associated Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).” This award has been approved for funding of $156,640 for two years.
Dr. Fang earned his MD/PhD in pathology from Fudan University – one of China’s leading medical institutions – in 2019, followed by three years of residency training in Shanghai General Hospital. In August 2022, he joined Dr. Chen’s lab to pursue postdoctoral research focusing on the molecular mechanisms of kidney disease.
With a strong foundation in renal pathology and clinical nephrology, Dr. Fang is committed to translating scientific discoveries into therapeutics.
“I came to the US and joined WashU Nephrology in 2022 to work with Dr. Chen so that I could investigate the molecular mechanisms of kidney disease and discover therapeutics to mitigate kidney disease,” says Fang. “The AHA grant will provide critical support for my research by utilizing both mouse and patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-differentiated kidney organoid models of genetic chronic kidney disease, inspired by patient’s mutation. It will also help me establish a strong foundation for an independent scientific career centering on development of novel therapies for kidney disease.”
The Maggie Chen Laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of kidney diseases, including ADTKD (Autosomal Dominant Tubulointerstitial Kidney Disease), nephrotic syndrome caused by podocyte injury, and acute kidney injury. The lab aims to identify novel therapeutic targets to improve outcomes in both genetic and acquired forms of kidney disease. Dr. Chen has launched the first and only dedicated ADTKD Center in the country – a clinical and research hub – designed to care for patients affected by this genetic disease. The ADTKD Center has completed a Confidentiality Agreement (CDA) with NIH/NCATS recently to develop novel small molecule chemical compounds and peptides together.
See a list of Dr. Fang’s publications on Google Scholar, and check out the Maggie Chen Laboratory to learn more about their exciting research.
