Jian Yang

Biography

Prof. Jian Yang, Principle Investigator, Director of Ion Channel Research and Drug Development Center (ICDC), Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University. Main research interests are to (1) study the structure, function and regulation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, using a combination of approaches including molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, patch-clamp, X-ray crystallography and confocal imaging; (2) Elucidate, at the molecular, cellular and animal levels, the pathogenic mechanisms of human diseases (including Alzheimer’s disease, autism and polycystic kidney disease) that are caused by or associated with mutations and/or dysfunction of VGCCs and TRP channels; (3) Search for active natural compounds and develop drugs targeting these channels using various screening techniques (including fluorescence-based high throughput screens). Research papers have been published in journals such as Physiological Reviews, Nature, Nature Neuroscience, Neuron and PNAS.

Research Interest

Finding active molecules from natural products that selectively act on physiological important and disease-related ion channels such as voltage-gated calcium channels, transient receptor potential channels, BK and Kv channels, with the ultimate goal of developing specific drugs targeting these ion channels for the treatment of human diseases and disorders such as hypertension, arrhythmia, epilepsy, migraine and pain.