Shan Yan

Dr. Shan Yan is Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), within the College of Science. He joined UNC Charlotte as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in 2010, was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2016, and to Full Professor in 2019. Dr. Yan also serves as Program Leader of the Genome Integrity and Cancer Initiative (GICI) at UNC Charlotte and as Director of the Charlotte Biology and Biotechnology (CBB) Exchange Group, co-sponsored by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Additionally, he is an Affiliate Faculty member of the School of Data Science.

Dr. Yan's research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms of genome integrity and cancer etiology. His work spans Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, and Environmental Health, with particular emphasis on DNA repair pathways, DNA damage response (DDR), and genome stability. The Yan laboratory employs Xenopus egg extracts and mammalian cell lines as model systems, utilizing bioinformatics, biochemical, biophysical, molecular and cell biology approaches. His lab has made significant contributions in five key areas: (1) dissecting DNA single-strand break repair and ATR-/ATM-mediated checkpoint signaling; (2) elucidating molecular mechanisms of DNA damage response in oxidative stress; (3) revealing mechanisms of ssDNA stability maintenance; (4) demonstrating regulatory mechanisms of nucleolar DNA damage response through biomolecular condensates; and (5) characterizing cancer etiology and therapeutics.

Dr. Yan's publication record shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated understanding of genome integrity mechanisms. His 2022-2024 publications particularly highlight advances in understanding APE1's role in nucleolar DNA damage response, biomolecular condensates, and ATM signaling regulation. Recent work demonstrates how liquid-liquid phase separation contributes to DNA damage checkpoint response in the nucleolus, representing cutting-edge research at the intersection of cell biology and genome integrity.

• 2023 EMGS Education Award from the Environmental Mutagenesis & Genomics Society (EMGS)
• 2022 Outstanding Data Science Faculty Research Award from School of Data Science at UNC Charlotte

Dr. Yan has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring, having guided 2 junior tenure-track faculty members, 3 research faculty/staff, 4 postdoctoral fellows, 13 graduate students, and 26 undergraduate students, with particular attention to supporting women and underrepresented minority students. His service extends to significant leadership roles including Director on the Board of Directors of FASEB, Chair of EMGS Awards & Honors Committee, and Chair of the Competitive Grant Committee at UNC Charlotte. He has served as a grant reviewer for NIH Study Sections and NSF Review Panels, and as an editor for several prestigious journals including Journal of Biological Chemistry and Nature Communications.

The Yan Laboratory operates as a dynamic research team investigating fundamental mechanisms of genome integrity. Current research directions include deciphering SSB/DSB repair regulation, elucidating nucleolar and mitochondrial DNA/RNA stability mechanisms, dissecting biomolecular condensates in genome integrity, and modulating APE1, APE2, and PARP1 mechanisms for BRCA-related cancer treatment.