Yike Xie ／谢一珂
Postdoctoral Researcher · University of Gothenburg

Yike Xie, PhD

Reading cell states the way they're written — in sequence, in shape, and in space.

I'm an interdisciplinary scientist integrating single-cell and spatial omics, imaging, and functional phenotyping to understand human disease. My work spans technology development and disease biology, with applications in metabolic and immune-mediated conditions. My research focuses on i) developing multimodal approaches linking molecular cell states to function, and ii) studying tissue physiology and identifying biomarkers of disease progression.

Download full CV ↓ Google Scholar GitHub
Portrait of Yike Xie
937+
Citations
11
h-index
14
Publications
3
Countries (AU · CN · SE)
Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai, China Sydney Opera House, Australia Läppstiftet (The Lipstick), Gothenburg, Sweden
01 — About

From pharmaceutical science to bioinformatics

I trained first in pharmaceutical science (Fudan University), then completed a PhD in Bioinformatics at UNSW Sydney, where I worked on single-cell transcriptomics linked to cell-level phenotypes — from viral infection to live-cell microscopy. Since 2023 I've been a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Gothenburg, and from 2023–2025 held a joint position with AstraZeneca CVRM. I currently work under A/Prof Joan Camuñas-Soler on the spatial and functional mapping of the human pancreas in health and metabolic disease.

Current

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of Gothenburg, Institute of Biomedicine — spatial and functional mapping of the human pancreas in health and metabolic disease. PI: A/Prof Joan Camuñas-Soler. Since 09/2023.

2023–2025

Joint Postdoc, UGot & AstraZeneca CVRM

Physiological profiling of proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) during injury and repair. PIs: A/Prof Joan Camuñas-Soler and Sr. Principal Scientist Julie Williams.

02 — Research Interests

Linking molecular state to function

Method

Single-cell & spatial omics

scRNA-seq, snRNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics to map cell states and their organization within tissue, including differential abundance, expression, and cell-type deconvolution.

Method

Imaging & functional phenotyping

Hyperspectral and confocal imaging, quantitative image analysis, and functional Ca²⁺ / uptake assays integrated with sequencing to connect optical phenotype to transcriptional identity.

Application

Metabolic disease

Endocrine and exocrine cell states of the human pancreas in obesity and type 2 diabetes, and the discovery of extra-islet β cells with altered glucose responsiveness.

Application

Immune-mediated disease & liquid biopsy

Immune hallmarks of severe dengue progression, and cell-free RNA (cfRNA) protocols for non-invasive monitoring, including a parturition timing cohort.

03 — Education & Employment

Path so far

Since 09/2023

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of Gothenburg, Institute of Biomedicine, Sweden
Spatial and functional mapping of the human pancreas in health and metabolic disease. PI: A/Prof Joan Camuñas-Soler.
12/2023 – 12/2025

Joint Postdoctoral Researcher

University of Gothenburg & AstraZeneca CVRM, Sweden
Physiological profiling of proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) during injury and repair.
2019 – 07/2023

PhD, Bioinformatics

UNSW Sydney, School of Clinical Medicine, Australia
Thesis: Single cell transcriptomics with cell-level phenotypes — from viruses to microscopy. Supervisors: A/Prof Fabio Zanini, Prof Fabio Luciani, A/Prof Tatyana Chtanova.
07/2017 – 08/2019

Medical & Commercial Roles, Pharmaceutical Industry

Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical · Bristol-Myers Squibb · Sanofi, Shanghai, China
Two years across medical affairs, stakeholder engagement, and multi-channel marketing/customer liaison work, supporting scientific communication with healthcare professionals and cross-functional teams.
2014 – 07/2017

MSc, Pharmaceutics

Fudan University, School of Pharmacy, China
Thesis: In vivo fate of fluorescently hybridized nanosuspensions after oral delivery. Supervisors: Prof Wei Wu, A/Prof Yi Lu.
– 07/2014

BSc, Pharmaceutical Science

Fudan University, School of Pharmacy, China
04 — Publications

Selected work

Xie, Y.*; Postic, S.*; et al. Spatial and functional mapping of the human pancreas reveals endocrine and exocrine cell states in health and metabolic disease. View article ↗
bioRxiv 2026.06.30.735261 · under review, Nature Metabolism
Contribution: Led data analysis — differential abundance/expression analysis of snRNA-seq and its clinical associations; cell-type deconvolution and annotation of spatial transcriptomic data; integrated analysis of spatial transcriptomics with functional Ca²⁺ measurements. Contributed to conceptualization and drafted the initial manuscript.
Finding: Identified endocrine/exocrine cell states associated with obesity and diabetes, and developed Slice-seq linking spatial transcriptional programs to β-cell activity — revealing extra-islet β cells with reduced glucose responsiveness and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism.
Xie, Y.; et al. Integration of Hyperspectral Imaging and Transcriptomics from Individual Cells with SpectralSeq. View article ↗
Genome Research, 2025, 35(8), 1809–1820
Contribution: Led experimental and computational work — single-cell capture via CellCelector following hyperspectral imaging and Smart-seq library prep; cell segmentation and feature extraction; correlation analyses linking optical features to expression and exon usage.
Finding: Developed SpectralSeq to integrate hyperspectral imaging and transcriptomics in the same cell, revealing links between optical/morphological phenotype and molecular state — including signatures of apoptosis, metabolism, and alternative splicing.
Ghita, L.*; Yao, Z.*; Xie, Y.*; Duran, V.*; et al. Global and Cell Type-Specific Immunological Hallmarks of Severe Dengue Progression Identified via a Systems Immunology Approach. View article ↗
Nature Immunology, 2023, 24(12), 2150–2163
Contribution: Led computational analysis — differential abundance of immune subtypes and ML models predicting severe dengue progression; differential expression analysis; cell–cell communication analysis; serum cytokine profiling.
Finding: Identified B cells harboring replicating DENV as a major viral target in human blood, and revealed immune hallmarks of severe dengue — increased inflammation and immune migration, impaired antigen presentation and interferon response.
Gatt, C.; Xie, Y.; et al. Integrating Microscopy and Transcriptomics from Individual Uncultured Eukaryotic Plankton. View article ↗
eLife, 2024, 13, RP102991
Finding: Developed Ukiyo-e-Seq integrating optical and transcriptomic data from individual eukaryotic plankton; combined with AlphaFold 3 to infer photosynthetic protein structures from a single Chaetoceros diatom.
Manuscripts in preparation
Xie, Y.; et al. Decoding the molecular clock of parturition through cell-free RNA (cfRNA). (in preparation)
Developed an in-house cfRNA library preparation protocol, achieving sequencing performance comparable to a commercial alternative at ~50% of the cost and ~20% of the hands-on labor. Applied to a longitudinal parturition cohort.
Xie, Y.; et al. Profiling functional heterogeneity in injured proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs) at single-cell resolution. (in preparation)
Established the primary human PTEC culture and functional phenotyping platform (rotational and Transwell systems; qPCR, confocal microscopy, quantitative imaging, albumin uptake) that underpinned the project's renewal — the only joint academia–industry postdoc project funded for an additional two years.
  • Zanini, F.; Che, X.; Suresh, N. E.; Knutsen, C.; Klavina, P.; Xie, Y.; et al. Hyperoxia Prevents the Dynamic Neonatal Increases in Lung Mesenchymal Cell Diversity. Scientific Reports, 2024, 14(1), 2033. ↗
  • Kowarsky, M.; Dalman, M.; Moufarrej, M. N.; Okamoto, J.; Xie, Y.; et al. Cell-Free RNA Reveals Host and Microbial Correlates of Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Development against HIV. PLOS Pathogens, 2026, 22(4), e1014066. ↗
  • Xie, Y.; et al. Epithelia Transmembrane Transport of Orally Administered Ultrafine Drug Particles Evidenced by Environment Sensitive Fluorophores in Cellular and Animal Studies. Journal of Controlled Release, 2018, 270, 65–75. ↗
  • Xie, Y.; et al. Preparation and Optimization of Amorphous Ursodeoxycholic Acid Nano-Suspensions by Nanoprecipitation Based on Acid-Base Neutralization for Enhanced Dissolution. Current Drug Delivery, 2017, 14(4). ↗
  • Guo, Z.; Xie, W.; Zhang, Q.; Lu, J.; Ye, J.; Gao, X.; Xu, W.; Fahad, A.; Xie, Y.; et al. Photoactivation-Triggered in Situ Self-Supplied H₂O₂ for Boosting Chemodynamic Therapy via Layered Double Hydroxide-Mediated Catalytic Cascade Reaction. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 446, 137310. ↗
  • Yang, C.; Wang, Y.; Xie, Y.; et al. Oat Protein-Shellac Nanoparticles As a Delivery Vehicle for Resveratrol to Improve Bioavailability In Vitro and In Vivo. Nanomedicine, 2019, 14(21), 2853–2871. ↗
  • Shen, C.; Yang, Y.; Shen, B.; Xie, Y.; et al. Self-Discriminating Fluorescent Hybrid Nanocrystals: Efficient and Accurate Tracking of Translocation via Oral Delivery. Nanoscale, 2018, 10(1), 436–450. ↗
  • Jiang, X.; Xin, H.; Ren, Q.; Gu, J.; Zhu, L.; Du, F.; Feng, C.; Xie, Y.; et al. Nanoparticles of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Functionalized Poly(Ethylene Glycol)-Co-Poly(Trimethylene Carbonate) for Dual-Targeted Drug Delivery in Glioma Treatment. Biomaterials, 2014, 35(1), 518–529. ↗
  • Jiang, X.; Xin, H.; Gu, J.; Du, F.; Feng, C.; Xie, Y.; Fang, X. Enhanced Antitumor Efficacy by D-Glucosamine-Functionalized and Paclitaxel-Loaded Poly(Ethylene Glycol)-Co-Poly(Trimethylene Carbonate) Polymer Nanoparticles. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014, 103(5), 1487–1496. ↗
  • Jiang, X.; Xin, H.; Gu, J.; Xu, X.; Xia, W.; Chen, S.; Xie, Y.; et al. Solid Tumor Penetration by Integrin-Mediated Pegylated Poly(Trimethylene Carbonate) Nanoparticles Loaded with Paclitaxel. Biomaterials, 2013, 34(6), 1739–1746. ↗
  • Jiang, X.; Sha, X.; Xin, H.; Xu, X.; Gu, J.; Xia, W.; Chen, S.; Xie, Y.; et al. Integrin-Facilitated Transcytosis for Enhanced Penetration of Advanced Gliomas by Poly(Trimethylene Carbonate)-Based Nanoparticles Encapsulating Paclitaxel. Biomaterials, 2013, 34(12), 2969–2979. ↗

Full list with DOIs on Google Scholar (937 citations, h-index 11, as of 08/2026).

05 — Recognition

Grants, honors & talks

Grants

  • Assar Gabrielssons Fond Research Grant, SwedenSEK 97,500 · 2025
  • Assar Gabrielssons Fond Research Grant, SwedenSEK 70,000 · 2024
  • Wenner-Gren Foundation Travel Grant, SwedenSEK 23,000 · 2026
  • Sahlgrenska Postdoc Travel Grant, SwedenSEK 20,000 · 2026
  • Development & Research Training Grant, UNSW SydneyAUD 2,000 · 2022

Honors & Awards

  • Australian Government RTP Scholarship, Australia2019–2023
  • UNSW Arc PGC Student Award, Australia2021
  • First Class Scholarship & Daiichi-Sankyo Award, Fudan2016
  • Team Award of Innovation, Novartis Young Explorer Program2014

Invited talks & selected presentations

Medkem Seminar · 02/2026
Functional and spatial niches of the human pancreas in obesity and Type 2 diabetes
Gothenburg, Sweden
EATRIS Sweden Spotlight Workshop · 04/2025 (invited)
Biomarker discovery from RNA signatures in tissue and liquid biopsies
Sweden
WCMTM–AstraZeneca Postdoc Seminar · 04/2025
Physiological profiling of proximal tubular epithelial cells during injury and repair
Gothenburg, Sweden
University of Gothenburg (Host: Joan Camuñas-Soler) · 11/2022 (invited)
Single cell immunology with cell-level phenotypes: from viruses to microscopy
Gothenburg, Sweden
Prince of Wales Clinical School Postgraduate Seminar · 03/2023
A new experimental and computational approach enables live capture of cell behaviours and transcriptomics
Sydney, Australia
06 — Technical Expertise

Wet lab to dry lab

Computational

PythonSQLShell scripting Scanpyscvi-toolsPyTorch Linux / HPCSnakemake scRNA-seqSpatial transcriptomics cfRNAMultimodal data integration Predictive modelingImage segmentation & feature extraction

Experimental

Library preparationAssay development Automated liquid handlingRobotic platforms Primary & established cell cultureTissue dissociation Flow cytometryCellCelector

Supervision & mentoring

Let's talk cells, code, or careers.

Open to collaborations in spatial & single-cell omics, functional genomics, and multimodal disease biology — and to conversations about faculty positions and postdoc opportunities.

yike.xie@gu.se Google Scholar ↗ GitHub / echosun77 ↗ Download full CV ↓ Gothenburg, Sweden