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Weilan Ye Senior Scientist: Tumor Biology and Angiogenesis |
"I came to Genentech as a postdoc in October 1995 to work on neural development and neural degenerative diseases. I enjoyed the dynamic and stimulating scientific environment so much that I decided to stay as a scientist, beginning in November 1999, and started a small research program focusing on vascular development."
Current Projects "We are interested in understanding how vascular endothelial cells are orchestrated to form a functional tubular network after the initial angiogenic induction. A better knowledge of this complex process may lead to the development of new treatment strategies for diseases associated with abnormal vascular growth.
Towards this aim, my group carried out a molecular screen based on expression patterns, and we identified a significant number of novel factors that are abundantly expressed in the developing vasculatures. We are now carrying out functional analysis of these factors using several in vivo and in vitro systems, including zebrafish knockdown, mouse knockout, organ culture, and xenograft tumor models."
Collaborations "Over the years, as a postdoc and a scientist, I have interacted with numerous highly motivated and talented people from many departments. The strong collaborative spirit at Genentech is what makes this place productive and enjoyable. I am learning new things on a daily basis simply by being close to many excellent colleagues."
Inspiration/Vision "Many biotech and pharmaceutical companies run their business like machines. Genentech is an exception, where scientific freedom is blended well with good business sense. Time and again, Genentech is proven to be the industry leader. This is a place where creative minds have a good chance to transform medicine."