Tsan Sam Xiao

Tsan Sam Xiao is a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine. He is also a member of the Developmental Therapeutics Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Center for AIDS Research, and the Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology. His research focuses on structural and functional studies of gasdermin family proteins, inflammasomes, and inflammatory caspases, with applications in drug development targeting diseases like sepsis, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS. Xiao earned his PhD in Molecular Biophysics from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2000, followed by postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and NIH before joining Case Western in 2014.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang University (1992)
• Master of Science in Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1995)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2000)

Research Interests:

• Mechanisms of gasdermin-mediated pyroptosis
• Structural biology of inflammasomes and innate immune receptors
• Modulation of inflammatory caspases using chemical inhibitors
• Antiviral immune responses, including SARS-CoV-2 interactions

Lab Members:

• Syrena Bracey (MSTP Student)
• Brianna Busscher (BSTP Student)
• Sai Li (Postdoc)
• Zhonghua Liu (Instructor)

Publications: Xiao's work spans structural biology, immunology, and translational medicine. His recent studies highlight the role of gasdermin D in pyroptosis, the development of small-molecule inhibitors, and the structural basis of nucleic acid sensing. These studies contribute to understanding inflammatory disorders and developing targeted therapies.