Yan Lab

The gut epithelium is a rapidly renewing tissue that functions in nutrient absorption, sensing of our environment, and integration of external signals to control our metabolism and fight microbes.  The gut epithelium is also a tissue commonly affected by diseases like cancer and autoimmune conditions like celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis).  In addition to being the site of these disease processes, the gut epithelium is frequently injured by radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatments that physicians prescribe to combat cancers.  The Yan lab studies how stem cells in the gut replenish the epithelium so that we can harness the natural regenerative properties of this tissue to augment tissue repair, heal of inflammatory damage, and prevent cancer.  In addition, we strive to understand how stem cells in the gut generate daughter cells with specific functions so that we can make cell types that will be metabolically favorable for combatting metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes.