Wenfeng An

Wenfeng An is a Professor and Markl Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research at the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, South Dakota State University (SDSU). He leads the An Lab, focusing on LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposons' roles in development and disease. His academic career includes a PhD from the University of Michigan Medical School and postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

• Education: M.B., Peking University Health Science Center (1990s); M.P.H., Peking University Health Science Center (1990s); Ph.D., University of Michigan Medical School (2000s); Postdoctoral, Johns Hopkins University (2010s)
• Affiliations: SDSU's Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, NIH-funded research centers, and collaborations with institutions like Sanford Research

Research Interests: Genetic and epigenetic regulation of LINE-1 retrotransposons, L1's impact on cancer (e.g., myeloid leukemia), germ cell development, and disease mechanisms like Alzheimer's. The lab uses mouse models and cell culture systems to study L1's functional roles and mutational burden during development and disease progression.

Recent findings include YY1's role in activating mouse L1 Tf subfamily transcription, and the pivotal role of intact piRNA pathways in suppressing L1 mobilization during male meiosis. Articles highlight L1's connection to leukemia (Nature Genetics 2021) and Alzheimer's (NIH R01AG074283).

• Awards: SDSU F.O. Butler Award (2021), NIH grants (R01, R15), and multiple student scholarships
• Grants: NIH R01CA259581 (cancer research), R01AG074283 (Alzheimer's), R03HD099412 (spermatogenesis)

Labs/Teams: The An Lab includes graduate students (e.g., Md Shamsul Arefin, Yizi Zhang) and postdocs. Collaborations span virology (influenza studies) and systems biology (P50GM107632 Center).