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Nan Yang, PhD
img_Nan Yang
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Neuroscience
212-659-8288
email
Research Topics
Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Cell Biology, Cellular Differentiation, Chromatin, Developmental Neurobiology, Epigenetics, Epigenomics, Gene Regulation, Gene editing, Induced pluripotent stem cells, Molecular Biology, Myelination, Neuroscience, Parkinson's Disease, Psychiatry, Regeneration, Reprogramming, Schizophrenia, Stem Cells, Synapses, Synaptogenesis
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Development Regeneration and Stem Cells [DRS], Neuroscience [NEU]
Modeling human brain development and disease
One of the most intriguing applications of human pluripotent stem cells is the possibility to recapitulate and study key aspects of human brain development. Our group team up with the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai to investigate the changes caused by autism associated rare mutations at cellular and molecular levels in multiple brain regions using 3D brain organoid models and in different neuronal types with particular interests on epigenetic modifications and synaptic functions using induced neurons.
Chromatin modifications and human psychiatric diseases
Advances in human genetics and next-generation sequencing have permitted the identification of a stunning number of genetic variants that are linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), providing a platform for unraveling the causal chain of events that result in the disorder. However, the availability of data is not synonymous with the presence of meaning. Indeed, the challenge researchers are facing now is the derivation of biological meaning post-GWAS. Particularly, an increasing number of risk-associated variants are found in non-coding sequences. We use stem cell modeling system, genome engineering, CRISPR-mediated epigenetic editing, and state-of-the-art single-cell sequencing technology to determine the molecular impact of such non-coding sequence alterations.
Cell fate in the nervous system
We have pioneered the transcription factor mediated (trans-)differentiation of non-neural human cells, including fibroblasts and pluripotent stem cells, into multiple neural lineages including neurons and glial cells. Our goal is to investigate the fundamental events underlying the progression of cell fate specification and ultimately to recreate the cell types of the central nervous system from human pluripotent stem cells for research and potential use in clinical therapies.

Exchange student, University of California, San Francisco

PhD, Fundan University

Postdoctoral, Stanford University

2014

NARSAD Young Investigator

Icahn (East) Building Floor 13 Room 20D

1425 Madison Ave

New York, NY 10029

212-659-8288

Icahn (East) Building Floor 13 Room 52

1425 Madison Ave

New York, NY 10029

Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.

Dr. Yang did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry and other outside entities during 2023 and/or 2024: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.

Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.