Dr Ying Cheng is a Research Associate of the School of Women’s & Children’s Health in the Faculty of Medicine, UNSW.

Ying specialises in the area of molecular biology, cell signalling pathways through neuron transmitters, infection and inflammation. Her research interests are in etiology of detrusor overactivity and overactive bladder.

Her current research is the role ATP as a neuron transmitter in overative bladder, detrusor overactivity, and recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI).

Qualifications:

• PhD (University of Sydney)
• MSc (Helsinki University)
• BSc (Wuhan University)

Broad research areas: Urogynaecology

Specific research areas: Overactive bladder, detrusor overactivity, recurrent UTI, intracellular bacterial colonisation.

Ying is interested in neuronal cell signalling pathways of intercellular bacteria colonisation of E. coli in recurrent UTI, and its relation to overactive bladder and detrusor overativity.

Current research projects range from ATP as a neuron transmitter in overactive bladder to the role of ATP in inflammation on UTI, including the role of ATP release in detrusor overactive symptom, the effect of urine pH and UTI on ATP release, the correlation between UTI and overactive bladder/detrusor overactivity.  

Collaborative studies include intracellular bacterial colonisation of E. coli in recurrent UTI and/or overactive bladder patients with University of Queensland, Bond University, Wollongong University, and St George Hospital.  

Teaching interests:

Supervise Honours/ILP students and postgraduates.
Tutor molecular biology and cell biology, immunology and microbiology (virology).

ILP research interests:

Correlation between recurrent UTI and detrusor overactivity/overactive bladder

Project Topics for current Honours Students:

Detection of UTI by using microscopy methods comparing with routine microbiology culture methods.

Society Memberships & Professional Activities:

• ICS (International Incontinence Society)
• ASCEPT (The Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists)

Funding sources:

NHMRC (2009-2012), IUGA (2010-2011)