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Chris Yang

Dr Chris Yang

(he/him)

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Chris Yang

Overview

Dr. Xin Yang (Chris) is the leader of the Medical Ultrasound and Sensor Laboratory (MUSL) at the School of Engineering, Cardiff University. His research exemplifies cutting-edge interdisciplinary work, bringing together expertise from engineering, life sciences, and artificial intelligence to develop next-generation biomedical technologies.

At the core of Dr. Yang’s research is the development of acoustofluidic devices—innovative systems that harness sound waves to manipulate fluids and microscopic particles. These tools enable precise and label-free handling of biological samples, with wide-reaching applications such as early cancer diagnosis, drug delivery, biosample enrichment, stem cell differentiation, and personalised medicine.

Dr. Yang's interdisciplinary work draws on fields including microfluidics, materials science, electronics, mechanical engineering, AI, and clinical sciences. For instance, his recent work on wirelessly powered acoustic drug delivery systems (Journal of Controlled Release, 2025) and surface acoustic wave-based cytometry platforms (Advanced Science, 2024) demonstrates strong integration between device engineering and biomedical application. In addition, his collaborations with clinicians and pharmacologists have led to impactful discoveries such as real-time functional imaging of metabolic enzymes (Small, 2025) and acoustic systems for blood-brain barrier modulation (Biomaterials Research, 2023).

Dr. Yang’s contributions are not only scientific but also technological, with numerous innovations in flexible electronics, wearables, and AI-integrated diagnostic systems. His research has attracted over £1 million in competitive funding from the EPSRC, Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, GCRF, and various industrial partners. He is actively involved in national expert panels (EPSRC, MRC, BBSRC) and leads initiatives within networks like the UK Organ-on-a-Chip and UK Acoustofluidics Group.

Dr. Yang has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal papers in high-impact venues such as Nano Letters, Lab on a Chip, Small, and Acta Biomaterialia, and authored eight books. His team’s work continues to push the boundaries of interdisciplinary research, demonstrating how converging fields can unlock new solutions to pressing biomedical challenges.

PhD candidates are welcome to apply for PGR (Postgraduate Research) studies. Our group is actively seeking highly motivated early-career researchers interested in shaping the future of health technologies, drug discovery, and life sciences.

We offer exciting opportunities in several cutting-edge research areas that are especially attractive to young, aspiring scientists:

  • Single-cell technologies – from acoustic tweezers to high-throughput sorting and precision dispensing for personalized medicine.

  • Smart biomaterials & tissue engineering – for regenerative medicine and advanced therapeutic strategies.

  • Lab-on-a-chip systems & microfluidics – enabling point-of-care diagnostics and real-time biological analysis.

  • AI-assisted drug screening – integrating machine learning with molecular biology for faster, targeted drug discovery.

  • Acoustic & photonic manipulation – novel methods for non-invasive control of cells and molecules.

  • Biosensing & wearable health tech – building next-generation tools for real-time, continuous health monitoring.

  • Synthetic biology – engineering biological systems for therapeutic, industrial, or environmental applications.

Publication

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2006

2005

Articles

Books

Conferences

Research

Funded projects:

2025 Yang X (PI), Clayton A (CoI) EPSRC IAA £19,774 An ultrafast acoustic nanoparticle centrifuge to enrich dengue virus for large-scale dengue diagnosis

2024-2025

Clayton A (PI), Yang X (CoI)

Cancer Research UK

£91,000

Acoustic Centrifugation to Enhance Extracellular Vesicle Based Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

2017-2018

Yang X (PI)

EPSRC

First Grant

£124,998

A lab-on-a-chip for characterising and sorting cancer cells

2019-2022

Theobald P (PI) Yang X (CoI)

Soe S (CoI)

EPSRC

£341,832

(Cardiff)

£393,630

(Glasgow)

Growth and Remodelling in the Porcine Heart-- Pushing Mathematics through Experiments

2018-2020

Yang X (PI)

The Royal Society

International Exchanges

£12,000

The Analysis of Mechanical Factors and Response in Tumour Microenvironment of Metastasis

2019-2020

Eunju Shin (PI) 

Yang X (CoI)

Wellcome Trust

ISSF3 Cross Disciplinary Award

£48,399

Using surface acoustic waves to efficiently generate pure neuronal populations from stem cells to generate insight into human brain disorders

2020-2021

William Gray (PI)

Yang X (CoI)

EPSRC IAA

£10,207

Developing an enhanced gel model to study device performance for cell and drug delivery to brain

2019-2020

Yang X (PI)

IREGene Pharmaceutics Ltd.

£10,000

Development of Acoustofluidic Devices for Early Cancer Diagnostics

2019

Yang X (PI)

GCRF IAA

£29,607

A smartphone-based acoustofluidic chip for point-of-care diagnosis of dengue virus in Malaysia

2019

Yang X (PI)

National Epitaxy Facility Pump Priming

£2,000

Gallium Nitride for Nano and Microelectromechanical Systems (GaN N/MEMS)

2019

Yang X (PI) Clayton A (CoI)

GCRF

£49,895

An Acoustic Microfluidic Chip for Malaria Detection and Treatment in India

2019

Yang X (supervisor)

Roman Mikhaylov

EPSRC Industrial Strategy Innovation

£10,971

Acoustofluidic separation of exosomes for precision medicine

2018-2019

Clayton A (PI)

Yang X (CoI)

Wellcome Trust

ISSF3 Cross Disciplinary Award

£46,746

Using thermal acoustic waves to fractionate nanovesicle subpopulations for liquid biopsy utility

2018

Yang X (PI)

Clayton A (CoI)

GCRF IAA

£24,416

PCBSAW: A Printed Circuit Board Based Surface Acoustic Wave Biochip for Low Cost Early Cancer Diagnostics

2018-2021

Yang X (PI) Clayton A (CoI)

Xie Z (CoI)

EPSRC DTP

£65,000

Acoustic Separation of Cancer-derived Extracellular Vesicles for Cancer Early Diagnostics

2018

Pagliara S (PI)

McArdle C (CoI)

Tosh D (CoI)

Yang X (CoI)

GW4 Building Communities Programme

Initiator Fund

£8,840

Microfluidics and modelling for investigating cellular heterogeneity

2018-2019

Yang X (PI)

Clayton A (CoI) Shen M (CoI) Evans W (CoI)

EPSRC IAA

£49,850

An Acoustic Chip for Separating Circulating Tumour Biomarkers for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring

2017

Yang X (PI)

Votruba M (CoI)

Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair

£1,520

Near-infrared light irradiation device for early treatment of retinal

neurodegenerative conditions

2017-2019

Yang X (PI)

Cardiff Incoming Visiting Fellowship Scheme & International Collaboration Fund

£9,725

Targeting metastasis-initiating cells to reduce Cancer mortality

2017-2020

Yang X (PI) Shen M (CoI)

EPSRC DTP

£65,000

An Ultrasonic System-on-a-chip for Early Cancer Diagnosis

2016-2017

Yang X (PI) Wells P (CoI)

EPSRC IAA

£6,681

An ultrasonic point-of-care sensor for circulating tumour cell detection

2016

Yang X (PI), Hicks Y (CoI) Nokes L (CoI) McCarthy M (CoI)

Globus Medical, Inc.

£6,020

MRI Characterisation of the Lumbar Spine in Lower Trunk Rotation

2016

Yang X (PI)

Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair

£1,995

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser ablation of ventricular septum in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

2015

Yang X (PI)

Biogae Renewable Energy Co. Ltd.

£5,287

Engineering solutions for the enhancement of methane content in biogas

2014

Yang X (PI) Nokes L (CoI)

Welsh Arthritis Research Network

£5,000

The Anatomical Effects of Rotation on the Cervical and Lumbar Soine: An MRI Study

2014

Yang X (PI)

Wellcome Trust

£2,000

Classification of leg swelling using ultrasound elastography

2014

Yang X (PI)

Welsh European Funding

£1,000

Microwave Sensors for Cancer Detection

 

 

PhD students:

Title                                                                                                 

Student

Status

Degree

Acoustic Interactions with Cells

Povilas Dumcius

Current

PhD

Acoustic Investigation of the Mechanism of Cancer Metastasis

Victory Akhimien

Current

PhD

Lab-on-GaN for Manipulating Cancer Exosomes for Cancer Early Diagnostics

Mercedes Stringer Martin

Current

PhD

Numerical and Experimental Acoustic Microfluidics for Detection of Circulating Tumour Cells

Hanlin Wang

Current

PhD

The Development of Acoustofluidic Lab-on-a-chip for Early Cancer Detection

Fangda Wu

Current

PhD

The Development of Novel Acoustic Microfluidic Chip for Separating Cancer-derived Exosomes

Roman Mikhaylov

Current

PhD

Ultrasound Diagnostics of Vulnerable plaque

Sarah Alithey

Graduated

PhD

A Novel Technique in Detecting Cancers In 3d Imaging.

Al Qazzaz Salma

Current

PhD

Optimising the Quantitative Analysis in Functional Pet Brain Imaging.

Alzamil Yasser Zamil Abdullah

Current

PhD

Quantitative Assessment of The Efficacy Of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy In The Management Of Achilles Tendinopathy. Specialisation - Medical Physics.

Al Omairi Baida Ajeal Badir

Graduated

PhD

A Robust Technique for Detecting Abdominal Aortic Calcification Using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry

Karima M A Elmasri

Current

PhD

Use Of High Frequency Techniques In Medical Diagnostics

Ehtaiba Mabrouka Haiba A

Graduated

PhD

 

Biography

Dr Xin Yang received his Bachelor's degree from Beijing Jiaotong University, China, in 2005, followed by a Master's degree from Queen Mary University of London in 2006. He earned his PhD in Medical Engineering from Cardiff University in 2011 and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh from 2011 to 2012.

In 2012, Dr Yang joined the School of Engineering at Cardiff University, where he led the Medical Ultrasound and Sensor Laboratory (MUSL). His research group focused on developing acoustofluidic technologies and devices for a wide range of biomedical applications, including early cancer diagnosis and treatment, biosample manipulation and concentration, acceleration of stem cell differentiation, drug delivery, and the integration of artificial intelligence in medical technologies.

Dr Yang has been the recipient of numerous research grants from prestigious funding bodies, including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Royal Society, the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), the Wellcome Trust, and various industrial partners, with a total funding portfolio exceeding £1 million.

He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as Applied Physics Reviews, Small, Nano Letters, Biomaterials Research, Acta Biomaterialia, Analytica Chimica Acta, and Lab on a Chip, and contributed to eight book titles in the field.

Dr Yang is an active member of the EPSRC, MRC, and BBSRC expert review panels, a senior member of both the UK Organ-on-a-Chip Network and the UK Acoustofluidics Group, and serves on the EPSRC Peer Review College. He currently sits on the editorial boards of Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering and Nanotechnology and Precision Engineering.

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