Yi Miao earned his bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University in 2010 and his PhD from Duke University in 2016, training in Richard G. Brennan’s lab. After completing postdoctoral work at Stanford University with K. Christopher Garcia and Thomas C. Südhof, he joined the Division of Life Science at HKUST as an Assistant Professor in January 2025.

Research Question

Our research laboratory is dedicated to exploring the fundamental mechanisms of intercellular communication. We are passionate about understanding how ligand-receptor interactions at the cell surface govern signal transduction between different cell types. Additionally, we investigate how dysregulation in these communication pathways contributes to various diseases. Building on these insights, our goal is to develop innovative tools and therapeutics to address these challenges.

Research Approach

The lab studies cell communication through cell surface receptors, focusing on neurobiology, immunology, and their intersection. We employ a multidisciplinary approach that integrates protein biochemistry, structural biology, and protein engineering with physiological characterization and stem cell techniques. Additionally, we aim to develop drugs to translate our research findings into potential therapies.

Recent Representative Publications

1. Miao, Y.^#, Wang, H., Jude, K.M., Wang, Jie, Wang, Jinzhao, Wernig, M., and Südhof, T.C.^# (2025) Structure of the complex of C1q-like 3 protein with adhesion-GPCR BAI3.  Commun. Biol., 8(1), 693, (^#corresponding authors)
2. Miao, Y.*, Yadav, V.*, Shadrick, W., Liu, J., Jennder, A.R., Nichols, C.B., … Washington, E.J. (2025) Inhibitors of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase activity in fungal pathogens compromise thermal tolerance pathways.  mBio, 120(11), e01795-25.  (*These authors contribute equally)
3. Wang, Jie*, Miao, Y.*, Wicklein, R., Sun, Z., Wang, J., Jude. K.M., Fernandes, R.A., Merrill, S.A., Wernig, M., Garcia, K.C. and Südhof, T.C. (2021) RTN4/NoGo receptor binding to BAI adhesion-GPCRs regulates neuronal development. Cell,184(24), 5869-5885(*These authors contribute equally)
4. Miao, Y., Ha, A., de Lau, W., Yuki, K., Santos, A. J., You, C., … Garcia, K.C. (2020) Next-Generation surrogate Wnts support organoid growth and deconvolute Frizzled pleiotropy in vivo. Cell Stem Cell, 27 (5), 840-851.
5. Luca V.C.*, Miao Y.*, Li X., Hollander M.J., Kuo C.J., Garcia K.C. (2020) Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt signaling. PLoS One 15(1): e0226928 (*These authors contribute equally)
6. Dang, L.T.*, Miao, Y.*, Ha, A., Yuki, K., Park, K., Janda, J.Y., Jude, K.M., Mohan, K., Ha, N., Vallon, M. Yuan, J., Vilches-Moure, J.G., Kuo, C.J., Garcia, K.C. and Baker, D. (2019). Receptor subtype discrimination using extensive shape complementary designed interfaces. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol., 26(6), 407-414 (*These authors contribute equally).
7. Miao, Y., Tenor, J.L., Toffaletti, D.L., Maskarinec, S.A., Liu, J.Y., Lee, R.E., Perfect, J.R., and Brennan, R.G. (2017). Structural and in vivo studies on trehalose-6-phosphate synthase from pathogenic fungi provide insights into its catalytic mechanism, biological necessity and potential for novel antifungal drug design. mBio 8, 13.
8. Miao, Y., Tenor, J.L., Toffaletti, D.L., Washington, E.J., Liu, J.Y., Shadrick, W.R., Schumacher, M.A., Lee, R.E., Perfect, J.R., and Brennan, R.G. (2016). Structures of trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase from pathogenic fungi reveal the mechanisms of substrate recognition and catalysis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 113, 7148-7153.

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