Lab Update – Xue Yan, PhD

Oral epithelial stem cells and their malignancy transformation in head and neck cancers

Assistant Professor Xue Yuan, PhD, joined the Department of Otolaryngology in 2021 after completing postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Yuan received funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for the project investigating oral epithelial stem cells and their malignancy transformation in head and neck cancers.

Yuan’s primary research interest lies in the identification of adult stem cells, as they play a pivotal role as regenerative precursors in wound repair processes. As stem cells age, their functional ability deteriorates and reflects as the decline of tissue regenerative ability. Conversely, aberrantly hyperactive stem cells are considered high-risk factors for cancer due to their tumorigenic potential. Consequently, Yuan believes studies of adult stem cells and their regulatory mechanisms hold the promise for therapeutic intervention in regenerative medicine, aging and cancer.

Currently, the Yuan Lab is investigating the transformation of healthy stem cells to cancer stem cells in the oral epithelium and determining how inflammation shapes the stem cell niche in various inflammatory conditions, such as periodontal disease, type II diabetes and trauma.