As a cardiologist, Prof. Yang has great expertise and rich experience in diagnosing and treating acute and critical diseases, as well as difficult and complicated diseases in cardiology. He also excels in minimally invasive interventional treatment of coronary heart disease through radial artery. Moreover, he has great enthusiasm for translational basic research, mainly focusing on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and no-reflow after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and the application of stem cells/cell products in treating cardiac remodeling and heart failure after AMI. So far, he has hosted and finished many national research projects, such as the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has been awarded one first prize and one second prize of National Scientific and Technological Progress, five first prize and five second prize of Ministerial and Provincial-Level Science and Technology Awards.

Research areas:

1. Traditional Chinese medicine Tongxinluo and acute myocardial infarction
2. Transplantation of stem cells/cell products for treating acute myocardial infarction

Publications:

1. Yang Y*, Li X, Chen G, Xian Y, Zhang H, Wu Y, Yang Y, Wu J, Wang C, He S, Wang Z, Wang Y, Wang Z, Liu H, Wang X, Zhang M, Zhang J, Li J, An T, Guan H, Li L, Shang M, Yao C, Han Y, Zhang B, Gao R, Peterson ED; CTS-AMI Investigators Traditional Chinese Medicine Compound (Tongxinluo) and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: The CTS-AMI Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2023 Oct 24;330(16):1534-1545.
2. Ning Y, Huang P, Chen G, Xiong Y, Gong Z, Wu C, Xu J, Jiang W, Li X, Tang R, Zhang L, Hu M, Xu J, Xu J, Qian H, Jin C, Yang Y*. Atorvastatin-pretreated mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles promote cardiac repair after myocardial infarction via shifting macrophage polarization by targeting microRNA-139-3p/Stat1 pathway. BMC Med. 2023 Mar 16;21(1):96.
3. Xu JY, Xiong YY, Tang RJ, Jiang WY, Ning Y, Gong ZT, Huang PS, Chen GH, Xu J, Wu CX, Hu MJ, Xu J, Xu Y, Huang CR, Jin C, Lu XT, Qian HY, Li XD, Yang YJ*. Interleukin-5-induced eosinophil population improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Res. 2022 Jul 20;118(9):2165-2178
4. Huang P, Wang L, Li Q, Tian X, Xu J, Xu J, Xiong Y, Chen G, Qian H, Jin C, Yu Y, Cheng K, Qian L, Yang Y*. Atorvastatin enhances the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes in acute myocardial infarction via up-regulating long non-coding RNA H19. CARDIOVASC RES. 2020;116(2):353-367.
5. Chen G, Xu C, Gillette TG, Huang T, Huang P, Li Q, Li X, Li Q, Ning Y, Tang R, Huang C, Xiong Y, Tian X, Xu J, Xu J, Chang L, Wei C, Jin C, Hill JA, Yang Y*. Cardiomyocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles can signal eNOS activation in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells to protect against Ischemia/Reperfusion injury. THERANOSTICS. 2020;10(25):11754-11774.
6. Yang YJ*, Qian HY, Song L, Geng YJ, Gao RL, Li N, Wang H, Tian XQ, Huang J, Huang PS, Xu J, Shen R, Lu MJ, Zhao SH, Wu WC, Wu Y, Zhang J, Qian J, Xu JY, Xiong YY. Strengthening effects of bone marrow mononuclear cells with intensive atorvastatin in acute myocardial infarction. Open Heart （BMJ）. 2020;7(1).
7. Huang P, Wang L, Li Q, Xu J, Xu J, Xiong Y, Chen G, Qian H, Jin C, Yu Y, Liu J, Qian L, Yang Y*. Combinatorial treatment of acute myocardial infarction using stem cells and their derived exosomes resulted in improved heart performance. STEM CELL RES THER. 2019;10(1):300.
8. Xu J, Xiong YY, Li Q, Hu MJ, Huang PS, Xu JY, Tian XQ, Jin C, Liu JD, Qian L, Yang YJ*. Optimization of Timing and Times for Administration of Atorvastatin-Pretreated Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Preclinical Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2019;8(10):1068-1083.
9. Yang YJ*, Kandzari DE, Gao Z, Xu B, Chen JL, Qiao SB, Li JJ, Qin XW, Yao M, Wu YJ, Yuan JQ, Chen J, Liu HB, Dai J, Chen T, Wang Y, Li W, Gao R. Transradial versus transfemoral method of percutaneous coronary revascularization for unprotected left main coronary artery disease: comparison of procedural and late-term outcomes. JACC Cardiovasc Interv.2010;3:1035-1042
10. Yang YJ*, Qian HY, Huang J, Li JJ, Gao RL, Dou KF, Yang GS, Willerson JT, Geng YJ. Combined Therapy With Simvastatin and Bone Marrow–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Increases Benefits in Infarcted Swine Hearts. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol,2009,29:2076-2082
11. Yang YJ*, Qian HY, Huang J, Geng YJ, Gao RL, Dou KF, Yang GS, Li JJ, Shen R, He ZX, Lu MJ, Zhao SH. Atorvastatin treatment improves survival and effects of implanted mesenchymal stem cells in post-infarct swine hearts. EUR HEART J. 2008;29(12):1578-1590.