Center for Birth Defects Research

Summary of Research

Dr. Yang’s research focuses on the molecular mechanism(s) and potential therapeutic approaches of maternal diabetes-induced neural tube defects and cardiovascular defects in the offspring.

His laboratory has made original and significant contributions to the area of maternal diabetes-induced structural birth defects, particularly delineating the molecular mechanism(s) underlying neural tube defects and heart defects and revealing the therapeutic potential of several naturally occurring compounds.

Research Interests

• Decoding the Oxidative Stress Hypothesis in Diabetic Embryopathy through Apoptotic Kinase Signaling
• Unraveling the Molecular Intermediates Upstream and Downstream JNK1/2
• Revealing Cellular Organelle Stress as one of the Cause of Diabetic Embryopathy
• Developing Natural Compounds as Prevention for Diabetic Embryopathy
• Elucidating High Glucose as a Teratogen
• Establishing a Type 2 Diabetic Embryopathy Model
• Discovering the Epigenetic Mechanism in Diabetic Embryopathy
• Uncovering the Molecular Mechanism Underlying Maternal Diabetes-Induced Heart Defect

Meet Our Team

Peixin Yang, PhD
Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Division Director, Center for the Study of Birth Defects;
Deputy Director, Graduate & Post-Doctoral Studies;
Vice Chair for Research

Wei-Bin Shen, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
wbshen@som.umaryland.edu