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Hui-Kuan Lin

Fred and Janet Sanfilippo Distinguished Professor
Pathology

Overview


The research interest in Dr. Lin lab is to understand oncogenic networks between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, dissect the regulatory mechanisms underlying  the crosstalk between ageing and cancer, to unravel the role of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as ubiquitination  and metabolism in diverse molecular and biological processes important for cancer progression and metastasis, cancer stem regulation, cancer immunity and drug resistance by using biochemical and molecular approaches along with and genetic mouse models, and finally to develop small molecule inhibitors and antibodies targeting critical oncogenic signaling and metabolic vulnerabilities for cancer treatment. His research goals aim to not only reveal fundamental insights and concepts for cancer biology and cancer immunity, but also develop novel paradigms and therapeutic strategies for targeting human cancer and overcoming drug resistance.

Research interests include:

  • Crosstalk between oncogenic and tumor suppressor networks
  • Posttranslational modifications in signaling and cancer
  • Cancer progression and metastasis
  • Biology of normal and cancer stem cells
  • Metabolism in cancer and ageing

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Fred and Janet Sanfilippo Distinguished Professor · 2024 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Pathology · 2023 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology · 2024 - Present Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2023 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published March 19, 2024
Duke Awards 32 New Distinguished Professorships for 2024

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Recent Publications


ALDH4A1 functions as an active component of the MPC complex maintaining mitochondrial pyruvate import for TCA cycle entry and tumour suppression.

Journal Article Nat Cell Biol · May 2025 MPC1 and MPC2 are two well-known components of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) complex maintaining MPC activity to transport pyruvate into mitochondria for tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle entry in mammalian cells. It is currently unknown whether th ... Full text Link to item Cite

CD36-mediated endocytosis of proteolysis-targeting chimeras.

Journal Article Cell · April 14, 2025 Passive diffusion does not explain why many drugs are too large and/or too polar for rule-breaking membrane penetration, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs, generally of a molecular weight > 800 Da). Here, using biotinylated chemical-probe-bas ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Drug Development of Skp2 PROTACs in Cancer

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · 2023 - 2028

Unravel a novel metabolic pathway orchestrating prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2023 - 2027

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Rochester · 2002 Ph.D.