Yan Xiong
St. Louis,USA
Summary
Postdoctoral researcher with a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Genomics, focusing on lysosomal regulation and transcriptional control of neuronal clearance pathways. I independently apply molecular biology, proteomics, and high-throughput screening to investigate therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. My research includes a first-author study accepted in Nature Communications, and aims to advance mechanistic and translational neuroscience in the spirit of Rita Levi-Montalcini.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, United States of America
2023.12 - 2026.01
- Administered a calpain inhibitor via intraperitoneal (IP) injections to Kctd7−/− mice and littermate controls; demonstrated a significant reduction in neuropathology in Kctd7−/−mice; findings published in Cell Discovery, 2023.
- Partnered with the Mouse Genetics Core (MGC) to engineer a mouse model with a targeted gene mutation and quantified ≥20% upregulation of lysosomal gene expression in liver tissue.
- Designed and conducted a human kinome screening, identifying 12 novel kinase inhibitors that regulate lysosomal activity.
- Collaborated with the Genome Technology Access Center (GTAC) to identify upregulated lysosomal genes in response to IKK silencing via transcriptomic analysis, linking IKK to lysosomal regulation for the first time.
Ph.D. Researcher
Washington University in St. Louis / Baylor College of Medicine
St. Louis, United States of America
2017.09 - 2023.12
- Led the discovery of a previously unrecognized TFEB regulatory pathway (manuscript accepted for publication in Nature Communications).
- First to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying glycogen accumulation in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC); work cited 25+ times.
- Co-led a collaborative study demonstrating how lysosomal acid lipase inhibitors induce cardiomyocyte atrophy; findings presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions (2025).
Summer Undergraduate Researcher
MD Anderson Cancer Center
, United States of America
2016.07 - 2016.09
- Conducted independent research on genetic drivers of low-grade glioma using both wet-lab and computational approaches; ruled out a candidate oncogene mutation as a causal factor.
Skills
- Computational: Proficient in R, Python, ImageJ, Cell Profiler, Microsoft Office Suite, and GraphPad Prism Experienced with bioinformatics tools and databases, including Pandas, TCGA, UniProt and NCBI
- Wet lab: High-throughput screening, large dataset analysis, transcriptomic sample preparation and analysis, western blotting, molecular cloning, mammalian cell culture, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, qRT-PCR, confocal microscopy, CRISPR gene editing, and mouse model generation and handling
Certification
- Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics & Genomics, Washington University in St. Louis.
(transferred from Baylor College of Medicine). 2020—2023
- Ph.D. candidate in Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine. 2017—2020
- B.S. in Biology, Fudan University. Graduated with honors. 2013—2017
Accomplishments
- Algorithms for DNA Sequencing, Johns Hopkins University (Coursera), 2025
- Python for Genomic Data Science, Johns Hopkins University (Coursera), 2025
- Leadership and Management in Action Program (L-MAP), Washington University in St. Louis, 2025
LEADERSHIP and OUTREACH
- Invited manuscript reviewer for BMC Cancer, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2024–2025), and Biochemical Genetics (2025), providing expert evaluation of studies in drug discovery and biochemistry.
- Volunteer with the Amazing Brain Carnival at the SciFest, St. Louis (Aug 2025)
- Mentor for the Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience (SURGE) program, Washington University in St. Louis (Aug 2025)
- Debate judge, Ladue High School, St. Louis (Dec 2024).
- Guest lecturer, Washington University in St. Louis (Fall 2020)
Delivered biochemistry lectures to 30+ undergraduate students and developed interactive teaching strategies to enhance learning.
TALKS and AWARDS
- Delivered a talk at the Pediatrics Department Retreat, Washington university in St. Louis (2024).
- Awarded Best Abstract, Pediatrics Department Retreat (2024).
- Presented at the 17th International Congress on Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) (2022).
- Poster presentation at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Conference (2022).
- Recipient of Undergraduate Scholarship (2014–2016) and Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2016).
PUBLICATIONS
- Xiong Y., Sharma J., Sardiello M. TFEB degradation is regulated by an IKK/ β-TrCP2 phosphorylation-ubiquitination cascade. BioRxiv, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.16.562572. Accepted for publication in Nature Communications.
- Pal R., Xiong Y., Sardiello M. Abnormal glycogen storage in tuberous sclerosis complex caused by impairment of mTORC1-dependent and -independent signaling pathways. PNAS, 2019.
- Sharma J., Mulherkar S., Chen U., Xiong Y., Sardiello M. Calpain activity is negatively regulated by a KCTD7–cullin 3 complex via non-degradative ubiquitination. Cell Discovery, 2023.
- Yan S., Lin S., Gao B., Xu R., Shang H., Xiong Y., Jiang C. Multiple Myeloma, IL6, and Risk of Schizophrenia: A Mendelian Randomization, Transcriptome, and Bayesian Colocalization Study. EJHaem, 2024.
- Anahita Ataran, Ahmed Diab, Yan Xiong, Marco Sardiello, Ali Javaheri. Critical Role for Lysosomal Lipolysis In Cardiomyocyte Growth. Journal of Cardiac Failure, 2026.
- Fan He, Shuyang Lin, Tim Kong, Daniel A. C. Fisher, Alexander B. Kim, Molly Brakhane, Varun Ramesh, Christopher T. Letson, Maggie J. Cox, Mary C. Fulbright, Katrina Bark, Yan Xiong, Angelo B. A. Laranjeira, Stephen M. Sykes, Jorge Di Paola, Stephen T. Oh. Galectin-1 Fuels Monocyte-Driven Hyperinflammation and Represents a Novel Therapeutic Target in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. Under revision.
Timeline
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Washington University in St. Louis
2023.12 - 2026.01
Ph.D. Researcher
Washington University in St. Louis / Baylor College of Medicine
2017.09 - 2023.12
Summer Undergraduate Researcher
MD Anderson Cancer Center
2016.07 - 2016.09