Ying Huang, PhD, Master of Medicine, MD
Professor, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
College of Pharmacy
Join year: 2006
PhD 2002 - Ohio State University
Master of Medicine 1997 - Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine
MD 1994 - Beijing Medical University
- Pharmacogenomics
- Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Faculty advisor of the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO)
Carcinogenesis and cancer chemoprevention
My research focuses on the chemoprevention of cancers originating from barrier organs, including the skin and lung. Carcinogenesis in these organs results from the complex interplay between environmental factors—such as UV radiation and air pollutants—and internal factors like stress hormones and the immune system. My work aims to elucidate how these external and internal signals interact to drive cancer development, using preclinical models of skin and lung cancers. Another goal of my research is to repurpose FDA-approved drugs to target cancer-promoting pathways and signals. We have accumulated compelling evidence supporting the novel use of the β-blocker carvedilol for cancer prevention. Our skin cancer prevention project is supported by an NIH R15 grant (2018–2022) and an R01 grant (2022–2027). The lung cancer prevention project is funded by an NIH R03 grant (2021–2024). To advance the repurposing of carvedilol for skin cancer chemoprevention, we are developing and characterizing topical nano-delivery systems. For lung cancer prevention, we are investigating oral administration of carvedilol, and our preliminary data indicate that oral R-carvedilol does not affect heart rate or blood pressure in mice. Formulation studies to improve the oral bioavailability of R-carvedilol are currently underway.
Mechanisms of external and internal stress-induced skin damage, inflammation, immunosuppression and carcinogenesis
My laboratory has established several in vitro and in vivo models to examine the effects and mechanisms of UV radiation or other environmental stressors on the skin. We established protocols on skin cell cultures and hairless mouse models to reveal the role of β2-adrenergic receptors and ryanodine receptors in skin. An interesting direction my laboratory would like to pursue is the interaction of psychosocial stress and carcinogenesis. Studies in mice reveal chronic stress-augmented effects on UV-induced skin carcinogenesis. Our data indicate that the stress hormone epinephrine promoted UV-induced skin cancer in wild-type mice, but not in β2-adrenergic receptor knockout mice. We would like to know the mechanisms for the psychological stress, such as restraint, isolation, cold, and physical exercise on UV-induced DNA damage, inflammation, and carcinogenesis, and whether modulators of β2-adrenergic receptors and ryanodine receptors is effective in preventing these lesions.
Anticancer Mechanisms of Beta-blockers in Cancer Prevention and Therapy
Working together with my colleague Dr. Bradley Andresen, an expert in G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, we are exploring a new role of β-blockers in cancer prevention and treatment. The ongoing work is to answer the questions such as which β-blockers have better cancer preventive activity and what the mechanisms are. Repurposing β-blocker has become the focus of my laboratory and we expect to generate more exciting results contributing to the field.
Anticancer Mechanisms of Traditional Herbal Medicines (TCMs)
We are using in vitro and in vivo carcinogenesis models to examine cancer preventive or therapeutic efficacy of TCMs. This work is funded by Hong Kong and Macau governments or private companies. Our results contribute to modernization of traditional herbal medicines and the use of integrative medicine for cancer prevention and therapy.
Pharmacogenomics of Membrane Drug Transporters
We are working on membrane drug transporters ABCB1 (MDR1 or P-glycoprotein), ABCC1 (MRP1) and SLC7A11 (xCT) for their role in cancer treatment resistance. We are also interested to develop new approach of modulating transporter function to enhance efficacy of anticancer therapies using inhibitors or drug delivery strategies.
A Complete List of Published Work in My Bibliography
Below are some selected publications representative of current work within the laboratory:
Shahid A, Yeung S, Andresen BT, Huang Y.S- and R-Carvedilol Prevent Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Lung Carcinogenesis.Thorac Cancer.2025 Jun;16(12):e70109.doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.70109.PubMed PMID: 40534194; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12177202.
Shahid A, Dong F, Andresen BT, Huang Y.Carvedilol Prevents UV-Induced Immunosuppression and Skin Carcinogenesis through a Mechanism Independent of β-Blockade.JID Innov.2025 May;5(3):100365.doi: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2025.100365.eCollection 2025 May.PubMed PMID: 40270580; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12017990.
Sardar PK, Yeung S, Tow R, Luga J, Huang M, Shahid A, Andresen BT, Huang Y.Oral delivery of the non-β-blocking R-carvedilol enantiomer for skin cancer chemoprevention in SKH-1 mice.AAPS Open.2025;11.doi: 10.1186/s41120-024-00103-1.Epub 2025 Jan 6.PubMed PMID: 40191461; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11970618.
Congues F, Wang P, Lee J, Lin D, Shahid A, Xie J, Huang Y.Targeting aryl hydrocarbon receptor to prevent cancer in barrier organs.Biochem Pharmacol.2024 May;223:116156.doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116156.Epub 2024 Mar 20.Review.PubMed PMID: 38518996; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11144369.
Shahid A, Chen M, Yeung S, Parsa C, Orlando R, Huang Y.The medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum prevents lung tumorigenesis induced by tobacco smoke carcinogens.Front Pharmacol.2023;14:1244150.doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1244150.eCollection 2023.PubMed PMID: 37745066; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10516555.
Tow R, Hanoun S, Andresen B, Shahid A, Wang J, Kelly KM, Meyskens FL Jr, Huang Y.Recent Advances in Clinical Research for Skin Cancer Chemoprevention.Cancers (Basel).2023 Jul 27;15(15).doi: 10.3390/cancers15153819.Review.PubMed PMID: 37568635; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10417305.
Shamim MA, Shahid A, Sardar PK, Yeung S, Reyes J, Kim J, Parsa C, Orlando R, Wang J, Kelly KM, Meyskens FL Jr, Andresen BT, Huang Y.Transfersome Encapsulated with the R-carvedilol Enantiomer for Skin Cancer Chemoprevention.Nanomaterials (Basel).2023 Mar 3;13(5).doi: 10.3390/nano13050929.PubMed PMID: 36903807; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10005314.
Shahid A, Chen M, Lin C, Andresen BT, Parsa C, Orlando R, Huang Y.The β-Blocker Carvedilol Prevents Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Lung Toxicity, Inflammation and Carcinogenesis.Cancers (Basel).2023 Jan 18;15(3).doi: 10.3390/cancers15030583.PubMed PMID: 36765542; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9913110.
Shahid A, Huang M, Liu M, Shamim MA, Parsa C, Orlando R, Huang Y.The medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum attenuates UV-induced skin carcinogenesis and immunosuppression.PLoS One.2022;17(3):e0265615.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265615.eCollection 2022.PubMed PMID: 35312729; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8936451.
Abdullah Shamim M, Yeung S, Shahid A, Chen M, Wang J, Desai P, Parsa C, Orlando R, Meyskens FL Jr, Kelly KM, Andresen BT, Huang Y.Topical carvedilol delivery prevents UV-induced skin cancer with negligible systemic absorption.Int J Pharm.2022 Jan 5;611:121302.doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121302.Epub 2021 Nov 15.PubMed PMID: 34793935; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8692451.
Liang S, Shamim MA, Shahid A, Chen M, Cleveland KH, Parsa C, Orlando R, Andresen BT, Huang Y.Prevention of Skin Carcinogenesis by the Non-β-blocking R-carvedilol Enantiomer.Cancer Prev Res (Phila).2021 May;14(5):527-540.doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-20-0609.Epub 2021 Mar 1.PubMed PMID: 33648941; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8102373.
Chen M, Shamim MA, Shahid A, Yeung S, Andresen BT, Wang J, Nekkanti V, Meyskens FL Jr, Kelly KM, Huang Y.Topical Delivery of Carvedilol Loaded Nano-Transfersomes for Skin Cancer Chemoprevention.Pharmaceutics.2020 Nov 27;12(12).doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12121151.PubMed PMID: 33260886; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7761092.
Chen M, Liang S, Shahid A, Andresen BT, Huang Y.The β-Blocker Carvedilol Prevented Ultraviolet-Mediated Damage of Murine Epidermal Cells and 3D Human Reconstructed Skin.Int J Mol Sci.2020 Jan 25;21(3).doi: 10.3390/ijms21030798.PubMed PMID: 31991834; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7037760.
Cleveland KH, Liang S, Chang A, Huang KM, Chen S, Guo L, Huang Y, Andresen BT.Carvedilol inhibits EGF-mediated JB6 P+ colony formation through a mechanism independent of adrenoceptors.PLoS One.2019;14(5):e0217038.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217038.eCollection 2019.PubMed PMID: 31107911; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6527222.
Cleveland KH, Yeung S, Huang KM, Liang S, Andresen BT, Huang Y.Phosphoproteome profiling provides insight into the mechanism of action for carvedilol-mediated cancer prevention.Mol Carcinog.2018 Aug;57(8):997-1007.doi: 10.1002/mc.22820.Epub 2018 Apr 24.PubMed PMID: 29626349.
Huang KM, Liang S, Yeung S, Oiyemhonlan E, Cleveland KH, Parsa C, Orlando R, Meyskens FL Jr, Andresen BT, Huang Y.Topically Applied Carvedilol Attenuates Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Induced Skin Carcinogenesis.Cancer Prev Res (Phila).2017 Oct;10(10):598-606.doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-17-0132.Epub 2017 Aug 15.PubMed PMID: 28912118.
Chang A, Yeung S, Thakkar A, Huang KM, Liu MM, Kanassatega RS, Parsa C, Orlando R, Jackson EK, Andresen BT, Huang Y.Prevention of skin carcinogenesis by the β-blocker carvedilol.Cancer Prev Res (Phila).2015 Jan;8(1):27-36.doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-14-0193.Epub 2014 Nov 3.PubMed PMID: 25367979; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4289657.