معرفی
Feng Qian is a Professor of Medicine with a secondary appointment in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Qian's laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying polycystic kidney disease (PKD), with particular emphasis on the function of proteins encoded by genes PKD1/polycystin-1, PKD2/polycystin-2, and PKHD1/polyductin.
Dr. Qian received undergraduate education in biology from University Giessen, Germany, earned his Master's Degree from University of Freiburg, Germany, and completed his Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.) from the Universities of Heidelberg and Freiburg, Germany in 1993 under Professor Dr. Albrecht Sippel. He completed postdoctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine and a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine from 1993-1996, focusing on polycystic kidney disease. Dr. Qian joined Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor in 2002 and moved to University of Maryland School of Medicine as an Associate Professor in 2012, where he is currently a full Professor.
Dr. Qian's research centers on understanding the function of proteins whose mutations cause polycystic kidney disease, with particular focus on polycystin-1 cleavage at the G-protein coupled receptor proteolysis site (GPS). His laboratory has discovered that polycystin-1 undergoes cis-autoproteolytic cleavage at the GPS motif, which is essential for proper kidney structure and function. His team uses molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology techniques, and mouse models to study how GPS cleavage regulates polycystin-1's biogenesis, trafficking, and function. Another major research area involves studying the function of polyductin protein (encoded by PKHD1) in kidney physiology and PKD, with a focus on how PKHD1 and PKD1 interact in cystogenesis.
Dr. Qian's work has established that GPS cleavage of polycystin-1 is essential for proper kidney tubular structure, and disruption of this process leads to cyst formation. His research has also revealed interactions between PKD1 and PKD2 pathways during development, suggesting shared pathogenic mechanisms in different forms of PKD. His publications span from fundamental molecular mechanisms to potential therapeutic approaches for PKD.
- Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine Basic Research Junior Faculty Award (2001)
- National Kidney Foundation of Maryland Professional Development Award (2001)
- American Heart Association Scientist Development Award (2002)
- U.S. Patent No. 5,654,170: "Polycystic Kidney Disease Gene" (2005)
Dr. Qian has been principal investigator on several major grants including the NIH/NIDDK P30DK090868 Baltimore PKD Research and Clinical Core Center (where he serves as Antibody and Vector Core Director), a Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation grant on "Role of fibrocystin/polyductin in health and ARPKD," and NIH NIDDK 1R56 DK111611 on "The Molecular Mechanisms of Polycystin-1 Proteolytic Cleavage in Kidney Health and Polycystic Kidney Disease." His laboratory provides polycystins and polyductin specific reagents to the national and international research community.
Dr. Qian's laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach including electron microscopy, biochemistry, proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to develop a mechanistic understanding of PKD pathogenesis. His work has significant implications for developing targeted therapies for polycystic kidney disease.