I majored in Biochemistry in Wuhan University in Wuhan, China where I got my Bachelor in Sciences degree. During my undergraduate study I conducted a research to produce single cell protein from corn wastes through mixed micro-organisms culturing. This awarded study was published in 1994. After college, I went to Institute of Genetics of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing for a Master degree in molecular biology. My study focused on molecular cloning and expression of proteinase inhibitors that protect crops from insect damage. In 1996, I came to University of Texas Graduate school of Biomedical Sciences. My Ph.D. study was directed by Dr. Arly Nelson in M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. My work focused on organic cation transporters in the secretion of nucleoside analogs. Using xenopus oocyte as an in vitro expression system, I discovered that certain nucleosides are transported by specific organic cation transporters. Further, chimeric transporters were regenerated to identify the domains that contribute to its specificity. After graduation, I came to Dr. William Plunkett's lab as a postdoctoral fellow and graduate rise to assistant professor. My work focuses on developing transcription, translation and RNA splicing inhibitors in cancer therapy and overcoming drug resistance. My studies defined that inhibition of transcription and reduction of the short-lived oncoproteins was the major action of CDK9 inhibitors. We also developed mechanism based combinations of strategies for leukemia therapy.