Yu Chinn Joshua Chey

Research Interests

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Cancer Cell Biology Medical and Health Sciences Innovative Therapeutics Cancer Biology and Clinical Oncology Immunology and Infection Innate Immunity

Dr Yu Chinn Joshua Chey

Grant-Funded Researcher (A)

SAIGENCI

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Josh is a postdoctoral researcher in the Jenkins Cancer and Immune Signalling Laboratory at the South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI). His research focuses on the role of innate immunity in pancreatic cancer to advance understanding of disease biology and to support the development of innovative therapeutics. 

Innate Immune Regulators in Pancreatic Cancer

Research projects available: 

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are key molecules of the innate immune system that recognise microbial- and/or host-derived products to trigger the inflammatory response. We aim to understand the molecular basis by which specific PRRs promote pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal and aggressive cancers in the world that is strongly linked with a dysregulated immune response. 

This project employs preclinical disease models, as well as translational studies using our large collection of biobanked pancreatic cancer patient samples. Such research will ultimately assist in identifying genes for potential use as biomarkers for targeted therapy. 

For more information about this project, visit the SAiGENCI website and contact: Prof. Brendan Jenkins.

 

Jenkins Lab 2025
Jenkins Lab 2025

Date Position Institution name
2024 - ongoing Postdoctoral Researcher SAiGENCI
2024 - 2024 Research Officer University of Adelaide

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2020 Scholarship Adelaide Graduate Research Scholarship The University of Adelaide Australia -
2018 Award Most Outstanding Student Poster: Runner Up Australia and New Zeland Society for Cell and Developmental Biology Inc. Australia -
2017 Scholarship Master of Philosophy International Scholarship 2017 The University of Adelaide Australia -
2017 Award The RA Fisher Prize for Genetics II 2016 The University of Adelaide Australia -
2015 Scholarship Adelaide Summer Research Scholarship 2015 The University of Adelaide Australia -
2014 Award Outstanding Academic Achievement Award 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 The University of Adelaide Australia -

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
Malay Can read, write, speak and understand spoken

Date Institution name Country Title
2024 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
2020 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Master of Philosophy
2017 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)

Year Citation
2025 Chey, Y. C. J., Gierus, L., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J. C., B. Geiger, A., Staker, L. G., . . . Thomas, P. Q. (2025). Optimal SpCas9- and SaCas9-mediated gene editing by enhancing gRNA transcript levels through scaffold poly-T tract reduction. BMC Genomics, 26(1), 138-1-138-12.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC7
2024 Chey, Y. C. J., Corbett, M. A., Arudkumar, J., Piltz, S. G., Thomas, P. Q., & Adikusuma, F. (2024). CRISPR-mediated megabase-scale transgene de-duplication to generate a functional single-copy full-length humanized DMD mouse model. BMC Biology, 22(1), 214-1-214-15.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC2
2023 Chey, Y. C. J., Arudkumar, J., Aartsma‐Rus, A., Adikusuma, F., & Thomas, P. Q. (2023). CRISPR applications for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: From animal models to potential therapies. WIREs Mechanisms of Disease, 15(1), e1580-1-e1580-26.
DOI Scopus17 WoS12 Europe PMC18
2021 Adikusuma, F., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J., Godahewa, G. I., Chey, Y. C. J., Gierus, L., . . . Thomas, P. Q. (2021). Optimized nickase- and nuclease-based prime editing in human and mouse cells. Nucleic Acids Research, 49(18), 10785-10795.
DOI Scopus66 WoS63 Europe PMC58
2018 Sim, J., Cowburn, A. S., Palazon, A., Madhu, B., Tyrakis, P. A., Macias, D., . . . Johnson, R. S. (2018). The Factor Inhibiting HIF asparaginyl hydroxylase regulates oxidative metabolism and accelerates metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. Cell Metabolism, 27(4), 898-e.7.
DOI Scopus72 WoS70 Europe PMC63
- Arudkumar, J., Chey, Y. C. J., Piltz, S. G., Thomas, P. Q., & Adikusuma, F. (2024). CRISPR-mediated generation and comprehensive phenotyping of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy mouse models. BMC Methods, 1(1).
DOI

Year Citation
2024 Chey, Y. C. J. (2024). Development of CRISPR Therapies Targeting DMD Exon 51 for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. (PhD Thesis).
2019 Chey, Y. C. J. (2019). Generation and Transcriptomic Analysis of HIF-1Alpha and HIF-2Alpha Knockout 5TGM1 Multiple Myeloma Cells. (Master's Thesis).

Year Citation
2024 Chey, Y., Corbett, M., Arudkumar, J., Piltz, S., Thomas, P., & Adikusuma, F. (2024). Megabase-Scale Transgene De-Duplication to Generate a Functional Single-Copy Full-Length Human DMD Transgenic Mouse Model.
DOI
2024 Chey, Y., Gierus, L., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J., Geiger, A., Staker, L., . . . Adikusuma, F. (2024). Enhancing gRNA Transcript levels by Reducing the Scaffold Poly-T Tract for Optimal SpCas9- and SaCas9-mediated Gene Editing.
DOI
2024 Arudkumar, J., Chey, Y. C. J., Piltz, S. G., Thomas, P. Q., & Adikusuma, F. (2024). Generation and characterisation of mouse models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
DOI
2021 Adikusuma, F., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J., Godahewa, G., Chey, Y. C. J., Gierus, L., . . . Thomas, P. (2021). Optimized nickase- and nuclease-based prime editing in human and mouse cells.
DOI
Grants and Funding
Year Funding Awarded Amount
2025 CI, Professor Abdi Cancer Research Funding Initiative, SAiGENCI, “Identifying immune system regulators which ignite inflammation in pancreatic cancer” $ 20 000
Teaching
Date Position Institution name
2023 - 2024

Guest Lecturer for Cancer, Stem Cells and Development III (BIOCHEM 3001, BIOCHEM 3235, BIOCHEM 3520). 

  • CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Technology (1 lecture/year)
 The University of Adelaide
2018 - 2019, 2022 Practical Demonstrator for Cancer, Stem Cells and Development III (BIOCHEM 3001, BIOCHEM 3235) The University of Adelaide

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2022 - 2024 Member Adelaide Protein Group Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Australia

Date Role Membership Country
2025 - ongoing Member Australasian Pancreatic Club Australia
2021 - 2022 Member Australian Society for Medical Research Australia
2021 - 2024 Member Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society Australia
2018 - 2026 Member Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology Australia
2017 - 2028 Member Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Australia

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