Dr. Shih has received his doctoral and postdoctoral training in molecular RNA biology. Currently, he is an associate professor at the Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery at Taipei Medical University (TMU), focusing on studying oncogenic long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their translational applications. He is also a member of the TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine.

Academic Experience

• 2018-2022   Assistant Professor, Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
• 2013-2018   Adjunct Assistant Professor, Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
• 2013-2014   Research Scholar (supported by National Science Council of Taiwan), Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
• 2012-2013   Visiting Scholar, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, USA
• 2011-2012    Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
• 2007-2011    Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan 

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a new and under-studied class of transcripts with emerging functions in gene regulation and critical links to human health. Towards a molecular understanding of lncRNA function in tumor progression, our lab is currently integrating a set of biochemical, bioinformatics, and molecular biology strategies to characterize lncRNA species, elucidate their action modes, and explore their clinical applicability.

I. LncRNAs in response to tumor hypoxia
Hypoxia is a common feature of the tumor microenvironment, profoundly affects gene expression, and is tightly associated with cancer progression. It is now known that lncRNAs play critical roles in the signaling networks mediating the response of cancer cells to hypoxia, such as metabolic reprogramming, invasion, and metastasis. We are using a variety of approaches to identify and characterize lncRNAs involved in this process.

II. RNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cancer
In clinical practice, it has been shown that circulating noncoding RNAs could serve as potential disease biomarkers with high specificity, sensitivity, and noninvasive characteristics, whereas a series of lncRNAs hold great potential to be developed as specific targets for therapy. In collaboration with clinical physicians, our group is implementing in-depth studies to validate the clinical relevance of the oncogenic circulating lncRNAs we’ve identified, hoping that these efforts could help identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies beneficial to cancer patients.