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Nan Yan, Ph.D.

Nan Yan, Ph.D.

Titles and Appointments

Vice Chair

Professor

Endowed Title
Edwin L. Cox Distinguished Chair in Immunology and Genetics; Rita C. and William P. Clements, Jr. Scholar in Medical Research
Schools
Medical School | Graduate School
Departments
Immunology | Microbiology
Graduate Programs
Immunology, Molecular Microbiology
  • Biography

    The Yan Lab studies molecular mechanisms of innate immunity in infection, autoimmune disease, cancer immunology, and neurodegenerative disease. We are also interested in inborn errors of innate immunity, mechanisms of disease, and preclinical testing of therapeutics that target innate immune signaling pathways.

    More details at: Yan Lab Website

  • Education
    Undergraduate
    Fudan University (1999), Microbiology
    Graduate School
    University of Texas-Austin (2006), Molecular Biology
  • Research Interest
    • Innate immunity and autoimmune disease
    • Neuroimmunology, neurodegeneration
    • Nucleic acid sensing, type I interferon signaling
    • Rare disease, inborn errors of immunity
    • RNA exosome biology
  • Publications

    Star Featured Publications

    PARP7 protects the lung epithelial barrier from diverse environmental threats.
    Jeltema D, Yang K, Baty JJ, Araszkiewicz A, Xing C, Knox K, Tang Z, Dobbs N, Yan N, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2026 Mar 123 10 e2525274123
    STING takes on RNA viruses.
    Yan N, Science 2026 Feb 391 6788 868-869
    The STING pathway drives noninflammatory neurodegeneration in NGLY1 deficiency.
    Yang K, Torres-Ramirez G, Dobbs N, Han J, Asahina M, Fujinawa R, Song K, Liu Y, Lin W, Oviedo A, Chen C, Zhu L, Mueller WF, Lee K, Suzuki T, Yan N, J Exp Med 2025 Oct 222 10
    Autonomous STING signaling in Purkinje cells drives neurodegeneration independent of type I interferon.
    Yang K, Dunn M, Torres-Ramirez G, Dobbs N, Shakkottai VG, Yan N, Cell Rep 2025 Oct 44 11 116480
    Targeting Innate Immune Checkpoint TREX1 is a Safe and Effective Immunotherapeutic Strategy in Cancer.
    Xing C, Tu X, Huai W, Tang Z, Song K, Jeltema D, Knox K, Dobbs N, Yang K, Yan N, Cancer Res 2025 May
    PARP7 inhibits type I interferon signaling to prevent autoimmunity and lung disease.
    Jeltema D, Knox K, Dobbs N, Tang Z, Xing C, Araskiewicz A, Yang K, Siordia IR, Matthews J, Cohen M, Yan N, J Exp Med 2025 May 222 5
    STING: a multifaced player in cellular homeostasis.
    Song K, Heng L, Yan N, Hum Mol Genet 2025 Apr
    Dynamic STING repression orchestrates immune cell development and function.
    Knox K, Jeltema D, Dobbs N, Yang K, Xing C, Song K, Tang Z, Torres-Ramirez G, Wang J, Gao S, Wu T, Yao C, Wang J, Yan N, Sci Immunol 2025 Mar 10 105 eado9933
    STING mediates lysosomal quality control and recovery through its proton channel function and TFEB activation in lysosomal storage disorders.
    Tang Z, Xing C, Araszkiewicz A, Yang K, Huai W, Jeltema D, Dobbs N, Zhang Y, Sun LO, Yan N, Mol Cell 2025 Mar
    OAS cross-activates RNase L intercellularly through cell-to-cell transfer of 2-5A to spread innate immunity.
    Huai W, Yang K, Xing C, Song K, Lyu H, Williams NS, Wu J, Yan N, Immunity 2025 Feb
  • Honors & Awards
    • Burroughs Wellcome PATH Investigator
      (2015)
    • Endowed Scholar Award, UTSW
      (2011)
    • NIAID Career Development Award
      (2011)