I began my career at Harbin Medical University where I graduated with M.B. in Preventative Medicine, Master in Nutrition and a Lecturer for 4 years. I have background on Food Chemistry, Toxicology and food safety risk assessment. During my PhD study at the Institute of Food Research (IFR), Norwich I developed a specific assay for a selenium dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPX4). After my PhD, I worked as Research Scientist and Senior Research Scientist at IFR. My research focused on chemopreventive activities of dietary phytochemicals especially on the synergistic interactions between phytochemicals and nutrients on chemoprotective gene expression. I moved to School of Medicine, UEA in March 2005 as a Lecturer.

Career History

Reader, University of East Anglia, August 2014-present Senior Lecturer, University of East Anglia, August 2008-July 2014. Lecturer, University of East Anglia, March 2005-2008. Senior Scientist, Institute of Food Research, Norwich 2000-Feb 2005. Research Scientist, Institute of Food Research, Norwich 1996-2000. Lecturer, Harbin Medical University, China 1988-1992.

Academic Background

PhD, University of East Anglia, 1996. M.Med, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, China 1987. B.Med, Harbin Medical University, China 1983.

Understanding the mechanisms of isothiocyanates in cancer prevention, focussing on signalling pathways, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and expression of chemoprotective enzymes. Understanding the mechanism of Interactions between dietary isothiocyanates and selenium in gene expression. Identification of novel anti-cancer biomarkers using microarray and proteomic approaches. Neuroprotective effects of isothiocyanates and polyphenols. Bioactivity of nanoencapsulated phytochemicals and trace elements.

Lei, X. G., Zhu, J., Chen, W., Bao, Y., Ho, Y., Reddi, A. R., Holmgren, A., Arnér, E. S.(2016)Paradoxical roles of antioxidant enzymes: Basic mechanisms and health implicationsin Physiological Reviews96.pp. 307-364 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Davidson, R., Jupp, O., Bao, Y., Macgregor, A., Donell, S., Cassidy, A., Clark, I.(2016)Can sulforaphane prevent the onset or slow the progression of osteoarthritis?in Nutrition Bulletin41.pp. 175-179 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Zhang, H. Q., Chen, S. Y., Wang, A. S., Yao, A. J., Fu, J. F., Zhao, J. S., Chen, F., Zhou, Z. Q., Zhang, X. H., Shan, Y. J., Bao, Y. P.(2016)Sulforaphane induces adipocyte browning and promotes glucose and lipid utilizationin Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Wang, Y., Dacosta, C., Wang, W., Zhou, Z., Liu, C., Bao, Y.(2015)Synergy between sulforaphane and selenium in protection against oxidative damage in colonic CCD841 cellsin Nutrition Research35.pp. 610–617 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Wang, W., He, Y., Yu, G., Li, B., Sexton, D. W., Wileman, T., Roberts, A. A., Hamilton, C. J., Liu, R., Chao, Y., Shan, Y., Bao, Y.(2015)Sulforaphane protects the liver against CdSe quantum dot-induced cytotoxicityin PLoS ONE10. Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Ma, Y., Gao, W., Wu, K., Bao, Y.(2015)Flavonoid intake and the risk of age-related cataract in China’s Heilongjiang Provincein Food & Nutrition Research59. Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Green, J. A., Hirst-Jones, K. L., Davidson, R. K., Jupp, O., Bao, Y., Macgregor, A. J., Donell, S. T., Cassidy, A., Clark, I. M.(2014)The potential for dietary factors to prevent or treat osteoarthritisin Proceedings of the Nutrition Society73.pp. 278-288 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Bao, Y., Wang, W., Zhou, Z., Sun, C.(2014)Benefits and risks of the hormetic effects of dietary isothiocyanates on cancer preventionin PLoS ONE9.pp. 1-19 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Wang, Q., Bao, Y., Ahire, J., Chao, Y.(2013)Co-encapsulation of Biodegradable Nanoparticles with Silicon Quantum Dots and Quercetin for Monitored Deliveryin Advanced Healthcare Materials2.pp. 459-466 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Liu, H., Smith, A. J., Lott, M. C., Bao, Y., Bowater, R. P., Reddan, J. R., Wormstone, I. M.(2013)Sulforaphane Can Protect Lens Cells Against Oxidative Stress: Implications for Cataract Preventionin Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science54.pp. 5236-5248 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Ahire, J. H., Chambrier, I., Mueller, A., Bao, Y., Chao, Y.(2013)Synthesis of D-Mannose Capped Silicon Nanoparticles and Their Interactions with MCF-7 Human Breast Cancerous Cellsin ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces5.pp. 7384-7391 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Barrera, L. N., Johnson, I. T., Bao, Y., Cassidy, A., Belshaw, N. J.(2013)Colorectal cancer cells Caco-2 and HCT116 resist epigenetic effects of isothiocyanates and selenium in vitroin European Journal of Nutrition52.pp. 1327-41 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Hendrickx, W., Decock, J., Mulholland, F., Bao, Y., Fairweather-Tait, S.(2013)Selenium Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines and Influence of Selenium on Invasive Potential of PC3 Cellsin Frontiers in Oncology3. Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Shan, Y., Zhang, L., Bao, Y., Li, B., He, C., Gao, M., Feng, X., Xu, W., Zhang, X., Wang, S.(2013)Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a novel target of sulforaphane via COX-2/MMP2, 9/Snail, ZEB1 and miR-200c/ZEB1 pathways in human bladder cancer cellsin Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry24.pp. 1062-9 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Davidson, R. K., Jupp, O., de Ferrars, R., Kay, C. D., Culley, K. L., Norton, R., Driscoll, C., Vincent, T. L., Donell, S. T., Bao, Y., Clark, I. M., Arthritis, Experimental, Cartilage, Articular(2013)Sulforaphane represses matrix-degrading proteases and protects cartilage from destruction in vitro and in vivo: Sulforaphane is protective in the articular Jointin Arthritis and Rheumatism65.pp. 3130-3140 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Wang, Q., Bao, Y., Zhang, X., Coxon, P. R., Jayasooriya, U. A., Chao, Y.(2012)Uptake and toxicity studies of poly-acrylic acid functionalized silicon nanoparticles in cultured mammalian cellsin Advanced Healthcare Materials1.pp. 189-198 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Barrera, L., Cassidy, A., Wei, T., Wang, W., Belshaw, N., Johnson, I., Brigelius-Flohe, R., Bao, Y.(2012)TrxR1 and Gpx2 are potently induced by isothiocyanates and selenium, and mutually cooperate to protect Caco-2 cells against free radical-mediated cell deathin BBA-Molecular Cell Research1823.pp. 1914-1924 UEA Repository(Article) Barrera, L., Cassidy, A., Johnson, I. T., Bao, Y., Belshaw, N.(2012)Epigenetic and antioxidant effects of dietary isothiocyanates and selenium: potential implications for cancer chemopreventionin Proceedings of the Nutrition Society71.pp. 237-245 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Li, D., Wang, W., Barrera, L., Howie, A., Beckett, G., Wu, K., Bao, Y.(2012)Synergy between sulforaphane and selenium in the up-regulation of thioredoxin reductase and protection against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death in human hepatocytes.in Food Chemistry133.pp. 300-307 Full Text UEA Repository(Article) Warwick, E., Cassidy, A., Hanley, B., Jouni, Z., Bao, Y.(2012)Effect of phytochemicals on phase II enzyme expression in infant human primary skin fibroblast cellsin British Journal of Nutrition108.pp. 2158-2165 Full Text UEA Repository(Article)