NTU Bio-Tech

Associate Professor Shu-Han Yu’s Laboratory (The S.H.Y. Lab) focuses on two major research areas: the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and personalized medicine. The laboratory integrates high-throughput spatial transcriptomics with AI-guided multiplex immunohistochemistry to investigate the spatial organization and cellular interaction patterns within the tumor microenvironment. Through this platform, the lab aims to reconstruct functionally relevant immune microdomains, or immuno-clustering patterns, within the TME and further analyze the spatial proximity and interactions among different cell populations in these regions, enabling high-resolution spatial biology research.


The tumor immune microenvironment consists of tumor cells, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor vasculature, and extracellular matrix components. Together, these cellular and non-cellular elements regulate tumor immune evasion, promote tumor growth and metastasis, and influence patient responses to therapy. Therefore, systematic analysis of the immune cell composition and spatial distribution in patient tumor tissues and surrounding tissues can help establish a standardized platform for TIME analysis and further support the development of precision medicine and personalized therapeutic strategies.


The tumor microenvironment research platform established by Dr. Yu’s laboratory can be applied to the investigation of tumor biology and therapeutic mechanisms in canine and feline cancers, as well as other disease models. This platform is also integrated into the laboratory’s long-standing research on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). By analyzing the spatial organization of the tumor immune microenvironment and immune cell interaction patterns in OSCC patient tissues, the lab aims to evaluate their potential as predictive indicators of immunotherapy response. These research outcomes may help clinicians develop more precise personalized diagnostic and treatment strategies based on the unique TIME features of each patient, thereby reducing unnecessary drug use and treatment costs while minimizing potential side effects associated with high-dose, long-term, or continuous medication.