Xian Fan, Md

Biography

Dr. Fan received her MD from University of South China School of Medicine and completed her pathology training at Wuhan University School of Medicine in China. She was a faculty working in the Department of Pathology, Wuhan University School of Medicine until she came to Emory University in 1993. Under Dr. Janet Rubin in Division of endocrinology, Dr. Fan worked as a Senior Research Associate studying role of biophysical forces on bone remodeling. In 2006 she joined the laboratory of Dr. David M. Guidot in Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine and was promoted to Assistant Professor of Medicine.  

Research Interest

Her primary research goal is to understand the mechanism by which chronic alcohol ingestion and HIV-1 viral proteins induce oxidative stress and lead to alveolar macrophage and alveolar epithelial cell dysfunction.  Currently, Dr. Fan is focused on the expression and regulation of Nrf-2, the master transcription factor responsible for the cellular response to oxidative stress. In parallel, she studies the role of dietary supplements such as the Nrf-2 activator, S-adenosylmethione, and zinc in improving the lung function of individuals who suffer from chronic alcohol abuse and/or HIV-1 infection. Dr. Fan is also involved in training fellows, residents, medical students, and technicians in the laboratory.