Yan Chen
Ph.D., Associate Researcher
Email: chenyan@@gdiist.cn
Personal information:
Dr. Chen received her B.S. degree in bioscience from Wuhan University in 2006, her MA. Sc in biochemistry and molecular biology from Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2009, and her Ph.D. degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012. She joined the Lab of Somatosensory System in Shanghai Institute of Neurology (now the Center from Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology), CAS in 2014 as a postdoctoral fellow, and then as an assistant researcher from 2017 to 2021. Dr. Chen joined the lab of somatosensory Neural Networks (LSNN) of the Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Science and Technology (GDIIST) as an Associate Researcher in 2022.
Research interests:
Dr. Chen’s work is focused on the structure and function of somatosensory neural networks. She improved the labeling method of herpes simplex virus for tracing neural networks processing pain, itch or other kinds of somatic sensations. She is working on dissection of the fine structure of neural networks for encoding of different sensations by combining viral tracers with the high-resolution imaging and trying to elucidate the mechanisms of neural networks for discrimination of different sensations. She is also interested in the pathological changes of somatosensory neural networks under chronic pain or chronic itch conditions.
Representative publications
1. Yan Chen#, Yuran Song#, Huadong Wang#, Yiyun Zhang, Xinyu Hu, Kaikai Wang, Yingjin Lu, Zoutao Zhang, Shuai Li, Anan Li, Lan Bao, Fuqiang Xu, Changlin Li, Xu Zhang. Distinct neural networks derived from galanin-containing nociceptors and neurotensin-expressing pruriceptors. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Accepted).
2. Dan Wu#, Yan Chen#, Zhen Li, Hong Xie, Sashuang Wang, Yingjin Lu, Lan Bao, Xu Zhang, Changlin Li. (2022) Zcchc12-containing nociceptors are required for noxious heat sensation. Journal of Neuroscience. 42: 2690-2700.
3. Kaikai Wang, Sashuang Wang, Yan Chen, Dan Wu, Xinyu Hu, Yingjin Lu, Liping Wang, Lan Bao, Changlin Li, Xu Zhang. (2021) Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of somatosensory neurons uncovers temporal development of neuropathic pain. Cell Research. 31: 904-918.
4. Changlin Li, Kaicheng Li, Dan Wu, Yan Chen, Hao Luo, Jingrong Zhao, Sashuang Wang, Mingming Sun, Yingjin Lu, Yanqing Zhong, Xuye Hu, Rui Hou, Beibei Zhou, Lan Bao, Huasheng Xiao, Xu Zhang. (2015) Somatosensory neuron types identified by high-coveragesingle-cell RNA-sequencing and functional heterogeneity, Cell Research, 26: 83-102.
5. Xiaodong Liu, Yuanyuan Tian, Zhaoyu Meng, Yan Chen, Idy H. T. Ho, Kwong Wai Choy, Peter Lichtner, Sunny H. Wong, Jun Yu, Tony Gin, William K. K. Wu, Christopher H. K. Cheng, Matthew T. V. Chan. (2015) Up-regulation of Cathepsin G in the development of chronic postsurgical pain: An experimental and clinical genetic study. Anesthesiology. 123: 838-850.
6. Yan Chen, Xiaodong Liu, Christopher H. K. Cheng, Tony Gin, Kate Leslie, Paul Myles, Matthew T. V. Chan. (2013) Leukocyte DNA damage and wound infection after nitrous oxide administration: a randomized controlled trial. Anesthesiology. 118: 1322-1331.
