Ying Ying Wong

Dr Ying Ying Wong

Grant-Funded Researcher (A)

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences


No information available as at 19/3/2018.

I am currently undertaking post-doctoral research that focuses on the identification of genetic and epigenetic changes that contribute to Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). T1D results from immune cell-mediated destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. The reason a child develops T1D is poorly understood but appears to depend on a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental factors, leading to a breakdown in tolerance normally maintained by Regulatory T (Treg) cells.

My research aims to identify alterations in chromatin accessibility and transcriptome in T cells from T1D patients. Incorporation of chromatin conformation capture contact maps allows us to connect dysregulated non-coding, regulatory enhancers to their long-range target genes. A key aspect of this research is the longitudinal nature of the sample collection so that genetic and epigenetic alterations causing immune dysregulation can be identified prior to the loss of pancreatic beta-cells for the development of interventions that prevent T1D occurrence. 

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2022 - ongoing Grant-funded researcher University of Adelaide
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2024 Fellowship JDRF International Postdoctoral Fellowship Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International United States -
    2023 Award JDRF Career Support and Travel Grant JDRF Australia Australia -
    2023 Award Best Postdoctoral Poster Award (3rd prize) | Oz Single Cell 2023 Annual Conference OzSingleCell Consortium Australia -
    2023 Award School of Biomedicine Staff Travel Award University of Adelaide Australia -
    2023 Award Robinson Research Institute Travel Grant Award University of Adelaide Australia -
    2023 Award The Immunology of Diabetes Society (IDS) Award European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) France -
    2022 Award The Australasian Society for Immunology Bursary Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Australia -
    2022 Award Best Post Doctorate Presentation Award Adelaide Immunology Retreat Australia -
    2022 Award FHMS Research Travel Award University of Adelaide Australia -
    2022 Award BioLegend Best Presentation Award | World immune regulation meeting Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) Switzerland -
    2022 Award World Immune Regulation Meeting Travel Grant Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) Switzerland -
    2022 Award Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence University of Adelaide Australia -
    2022 Award JDRF Career Support and Travel Grant JDRF Australia Australia -
    2021 Award The Australasian Society for Immunology Bursary Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Australia -
    2019 Award Hans-Jürgen & Marianne Ohff Research Grant University of Adelaide Australia -
    2019 Award Robinson Research Institute Travel Grant University of Adelaide Australia -
    2018 Award Adelaide Medical School Research Travel Award University of Adelaide Australia -
    2017 Scholarship ENDIA Study Supplementary Scholarship ENDIA/University of Adelaide Australia -
    2017 Scholarship Adelaide Graduate Research Scholarships University of Adelaide Australia -
    2014 Scholarship Adelaide International Undergraduate Scholarships University of Adelaide Australia -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2017 - 2021 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    2014 - 2016 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours)
    2010 - 2013 Singapore Polytechnic Singapore Diploma in Biomedical Science (Medical Technology)
  • Research Interests

2024-2027 JDRF International Postdoctoral Fellowship: Finding T1D driver genes: Targets for future therapies, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Grant Amount: $354,000. 

2024-2025 Epigenomic Mechanisms of the Maternal Protection in T1DJuvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Australia. Grant Amount: $799,000. Role: Co-I.

2023-2024 Mapping the Immune defect in Type 1 Diabetes at Single-cell levelInner Wheel Australia Foundation Trust. Grant Amount: $65,000. Role: PI.

2023-2024 Using gene editing and single-cell RNA-seq to investigate FOSL involvement in the breakdown in Treg-mediated immunological tolerance in T1DChannel 7 Children's Research Foundation. Grant Amount: $100,000. Role: Co-I.

2022-2023 Mapping the Immune defect in Type 1 Diabetes to the immune cells in cord bloodInner Wheel Australia Foundation Trust. Grant Amount: $65,000. Role: PI.

2022-2023 Type 1 diabetes through the lens of single-cell transcriptomics: Turning targets into new therapies, Parse Biosciences Core Grant. Role: PI.

2022-2023 Using LentiMPRA a massive parallel reporter assay to link transcriptional control and genetic variation to disease and phenotypic traits, RRI Innovation Seed Funding Program. Grant Amount: $50,000. Co-I.

2021-2023 Using 3D genomics to functionally connect genetic risk of Type 1 diabetes to the genes that drive loss of immune toleranceJuvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Australia. Grant Amount: $505,000. Role: Co-I.

2021-2022 Connecting the genetic risk of T1D to the genes that are altered by it in immune cellsDiabetes Australia Research Trust. Grant Amount: $50,000. Role: Co-I.

 

  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Representative Women in STEM Alumni Network | Executive Committee | Strategic Planning Officer University of Adelaide Australia
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (A)
  • Email: yingying.wong@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: Womens and Childrens Hospital
  • Building: WCH - Clarence Rieger, floor 2
  • Org Unit: Medical Sciences

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