Research Overview 
Dr. Fridell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut.  Stemming from her keen interest in the aging process, Dr. Fridell’s current research involves developing an invertebrate system to model both metabolic diseases such as diabetes and, neurodegenerative diseases such as the Parkinson’s disease.  In addition, Dr. Fridell is interested in genetic/pharmacological interventions to promote a healthy span.  To this end, molecules involved in mitochondrial physiology are of particular interest and have been shown in the model system to extend life span.  Dr. Fridell’s research integrates genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology to understand the molecular underpinnings for aging and age-associated diseases.  Dr. Fridell has been a recipient for NIH funding since 2004.

Education 
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina, 1992-1997  
Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1992 (Molecular Biology)  
B.S., National Taiwan University, 1986 (Rehabilitation Medicine)

Selected Publications 
1. Sanchez-Blanco, A., Fridell, Y.-W., and Helfand, S.L. (2006). Involvement of the Drosophila Uncoupling Protein 5 in Metabolism and Aging.  Genetics.  172: 1699-1710.

2. Fridell, Y.-W., Sanchez-Blanco, A., Silvia, B., and Helfand, S.L. (2005). Neuronal Expression of the Human Uncoupling Protein 2 (hUCP2) Extends Life Span in the Fly.  Cell Metabolism.  1: 145-152.

3. Fridell, Y.-W., Sanchez-Blanco, A., Silvia, B., and Helfand, S.L. (2004).  Functional Characterization of a Drosophila Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein.  J. of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes.  36: 219-228.

4. Georgina Collett, Alan Wood, M Yvonne Alexander, Brian Varnum, Raymond P Boot-Handford, Vasken Ohanian, Jacky Ohanian & Yih-Woei Fridell and Ann E Canfield. (2003). The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase AXL Modulates The Osteogenic Differentiation of Pericytes. Circ Res. 30:1123-9.

5. Burchert, A., Attar, E. C., McCloskey, P. Fridell, Y.-W. Liu, E. T. (1998).  Determinants for transformation induced by the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase.  Oncogene 16: 3177-3187.

6. Fridell, Y.-W., Villa Jr., J., Attar, E. C., Liu, E. T. (1998).  GAS6 induces Axl-mediated chemotaxis of vascular smooth muscle cells. J. Biol. Chem. 273: 7123-7126.

7. McCloskey, P., Fridell, Y.-W., Attar, E.,Villa, J., Jin, Y., Varnum, B.,Liu, E.T. (1997).  GAS6 mediates adhesion of cells expressing the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl. J. Biol. Chem.  272: 23285-23291.

8. Fridell, Y.-W., Jin Y., Quilliam, L.A., Burchert, A., McCloskey, P., Spizz, G.,Varnum, B., Der, C., Liu, E.T. (1996).  Differential activation of the Ras/extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase pathway is responsible for the biological consequences induced by the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase.  Mol. Cell. Biol.  16: 135-145.

9. Varnum, B.C., Young, C., Elliott, G., Garcia, A., Bartley, T.D., Fridell, Y.-W., Hunt, R.W., Trail, G., Clogston, C., Toso, R.J., (1995).  Axl receptor tyrosine kinase stimulated by the vitamin K-dependent protein encoded by growth-arrest-specific gene 6.  Nature 373: 623-626.

10. O'Bryan, J. P., Fridell, Y.-W., Koski, R., Varnum, B., Liu, E.T. (1995).  The transforming receptor tyrosine kinase, Axl, is post-translationally regulated by proteolytic cleavage. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 551-557.