I received my bachelors and masters degree of environmental science from Anhui University and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, respectively. My previous research area mainly focuses on the biodegradation kinetics and QSAR study of PBDEs. These experiences excited my interest on the environmental behavior of POPs, so I decided to go on my study in this area.

Human toxicology program is the best choice for me, where I  could combine my interest and previous experiences on organic contaminants. In China there are many people suffering from environmental pollution, so it is very important to learn how contaminants influence human health. After my graduation, I would like to come back to hometown and do some research work about POPs contamination for the local people’s health.     

Thesis Title: Investigation of the anti-tumor responses of Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)-based immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)

Advisor: Andrean L. Simons-Burnett, PhD

Year of Graduation: 2020

Program: Ph.D.

Current Position: Preclinical Oncology Study Director, Crown Bioscience, Inc

Publications from Human Toxicology Program Research:

Yinwen Cheng, Nicholas Borcherding, Ayomide Ogunsakin, Caitlin D. Lemke-Miltner, Katherine N. Gibson-Corley, Anand Rajan, Allen B. Choi, Wattawan Wongpattaraworakul, Carlos H. F. Chan, Aliasger K. Salem, George J. Weiner, Andrean L. Simons, The anti-tumor effects of cetuximab in combination with VTX-2337 are T cell dependent, Sci Rep. 2021; 11: 1535. Published online 2021 Jan 15

Madelyn Espinosa-Cotton, Elana J. Fertig, Laura P. Stabile, Autumn Gaither-Davis, Julie E. Bauman, Sandra Schmitz, Katherine N. Gibson-Corley, Yinwen Cheng, Isaac J. Jensen, Vladimir P. Badovinac, Douglas Laux, Andrean L. Simons, A preliminary analysis of interleukin-1 ligands as potential predictive biomarkers of response to cetuximab,  Biomark Res. 2019; 7: 14.

Cheng Y, Lemke-Miltner CD, Wongpattaraworakul W, Wang Z, Chan CHF, Salem AK, Weiner GJ, Simons AL., In situ immunization of a TLR9 agonist virus-like particle enhances anti-PD1 therapy,  J Immunother Cancer. 2020 Oct;8(2):e000940. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000940. PMID: 33060147

Mengshi Li, Dijie Liu, Dongyoul Lee, Yinwen Cheng, Nicholas J. Baumhover, Brenna M. Marks, Edwin A. Sagastume, Zuhair K. Ballas, Frances L. Johnson, Zachary S. Morris and Michael K. Schultz, Targeted Alpha-Particle Radiotherapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Induces Cooperative Inhibition on Tumor Growth of Malignant Melanoma, Cancers 2021, 13(15), 3676;