Qin Yan, PhD
Anthony N. Brady Professor of PathologyCards
Additional Titles
Director, Center for Epigenetics and Biomarkers, Pathology
Co-Leader, Genomics, Genetics and Epigenetics Research Program, Yale Cancer Center
Scientific Co-Director, Center for Breast Cancer, Yale Cancer Center
Featured Publication
Contact Info
Additional Titles
Director, Center for Epigenetics and Biomarkers, Pathology
Co-Leader, Genomics, Genetics and Epigenetics Research Program, Yale Cancer Center
Scientific Co-Director, Center for Breast Cancer, Yale Cancer Center
Featured Publication
Contact Info
Additional Titles
Director, Center for Epigenetics and Biomarkers, Pathology
Co-Leader, Genomics, Genetics and Epigenetics Research Program, Yale Cancer Center
Scientific Co-Director, Center for Breast Cancer, Yale Cancer Center
Featured Publication
Contact Info
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Titles
Anthony N. Brady Professor of Pathology
Director, Center for Epigenetics and Biomarkers, Pathology; Co-Leader, Genomics, Genetics and Epigenetics Research Program, Yale Cancer Center; Scientific Co-Director, Center for Breast Cancer, Yale Cancer Center
Biography
Dr. Qin Yan (严钦) is Anthony N. Brady Professor of Pathology at Yale Medical School and a member of Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology, and Yale Center for Research on Aging. He directs a research laboratory to elucidate the roles of epigenetic mechanisms that drive tumor initiation and progression and to translate their findings to the clinic. His laboratory has made significant contributions to the understanding of the KDM5 H3K4me3/2 histone demethylases and epigenetic regulators of tumor metastasis and immune evasion. Dr. Yan received his B.S. degree from the University of Science and Technology of China, Ph.D. training with Drs. Joan and Ronald Conaway at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Stowers Institute for Medical Research, and postdoctoral training on cancer biology with Nobel laureate Dr. William Kaelin at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. He joined Yale as an Assistant Professor in 2008 and became a full Professor in 2022. He has received many awards including AAAS Fellow, ASIP Outstanding Investigator Award, Era of Hope Scholar Award from DoD Breast Cancer Research Program, Stewart Fellow Award and V Scholar Award.
Appointments
Pathology
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Discovery to Cure Internship
- Genomics, Genetics, and Epigenetics
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- Pathology
- Pathology and Molecular Medicine
- Pathology Research
- SPORE in Skin Cancer
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology
- Yale Center for Research on Aging (Y-Age)
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale Stem Cell Center
- Yale Ventures
- Yan Lab
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Associate
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2007)
- PhD
- University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2002)
- BS
- University of Science and Technology of China, Molecular Biology (1996)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0003-4077-453X- View Lab Website
Yan lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Akiko Iwasaki, PhD
Don Nguyen, PhD
Marcus Bosenberg, MD, PhD
Antonella Bacchiocchi
Craig B. Wilen, MD, PhD
Goran Mićević, MD, PhD
Immunotherapy
Melanoma
Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
Neoplasm Metastasis
Retroelements
Epigenomics
Publications
Featured Publications
KDM5B promotes immune evasion by recruiting SETDB1 to silence retroelements
Zhang SM, Cai WL, Liu X, Thakral D, Luo J, Chan LH, McGeary MK, Song E, Blenman KRM, Micevic G, Jessel S, Zhang Y, Yin M, Booth CJ, Jilaveanu LB, Damsky W, Sznol M, Kluger HM, Iwasaki A, Bosenberg MW, Yan Q. KDM5B promotes immune evasion by recruiting SETDB1 to silence retroelements. Nature 2021, 598: 682-687. PMID: 34671158, PMCID: PMC8555464, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03994-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCell Line, TumorDNA-Binding ProteinsEpigenesis, GeneticGene SilencingHeterochromatinHistone-Lysine N-MethyltransferaseHumansInterferon Type IJumonji Domain-Containing Histone DemethylasesMaleMelanomaMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutNuclear ProteinsRepressor ProteinsRetroelementsTumor EscapeCECR2 drives breast cancer metastasis by promoting NF-κB signaling and macrophage-mediated immune suppression
Zhang M, Liu ZZ, Aoshima K, Cai WL, Sun H, Xu T, Zhang Y, An Y, Chen JF, Chan LH, Aoshima A, Lang SM, Tang Z, Che X, Li Y, Rutter SJ, Bossuyt V, Chen X, Morrow JS, Pusztai L, Rimm DL, Yin M, Yan Q. CECR2 drives breast cancer metastasis by promoting NF-κB signaling and macrophage-mediated immune suppression. Science Translational Medicine 2022, 14: eabf5473-eabf5473. PMID: 35108062, PMCID: PMC9003667, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf5473.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricHuman WDR5 promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis via KMT2-independent translation regulation
Cai WL, Chen JF, Chen H, Wingrove E, Kurley SJ, Chan LH, Zhang M, Arnal-Estape A, Zhao M, Balabaki A, Li W, Yu X, Krop ED, Dou Y, Liu Y, Jin J, Westbrook TF, Nguyen DX, Yan Q. Human WDR5 promotes breast cancer growth and metastasis via KMT2-independent translation regulation. ELife 2022, 11: e78163. PMID: 36043466, PMCID: PMC9584608, DOI: 10.7554/elife.78163.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricCancer Epigenetics, Tumor Immunity, and Immunotherapy
Cao J, Yan Q. Cancer Epigenetics, Tumor Immunity, and Immunotherapy. Trends In Cancer 2020, 6: 580-592. PMID: 32610068, PMCID: PMC7330177, DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.02.003.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricThe crossroads of cancer epigenetics and immune checkpoint therapy
Micevic G, Bosenberg M, Yan Q. The crossroads of cancer epigenetics and immune checkpoint therapy. Clinical Cancer Research 2022, 29: 1173-1182. PMID: 36449280, PMCID: PMC10073242, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-0784.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricPotent BRD4 inhibitor suppresses cancer cell-macrophage interaction
Yin M, Guo Y, Hu R, Cai WL, Li Y, Pei S, Sun H, Peng C, Li J, Ye R, Yang Q, Wang N, Tao Y, Chen X, Yan Q. Potent BRD4 inhibitor suppresses cancer cell-macrophage interaction. Nature Communications 2020, 11: 1833. PMID: 32286255, PMCID: PMC7156724, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15290-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH KeywordsAdministration, OralAnimalsCell CommunicationCell Cycle ProteinsCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationDisease Models, AnimalDown-RegulationDrug DesignFemaleHumansHypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha SubunitMacrophage Colony-Stimulating FactorMacrophagesMice, Inbred BALB CMice, NudeNeoplasmsPhosphorylationProto-Oncogene Proteins c-mycReceptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating FactorSignal TransductionTranscription FactorsTreatment OutcomeKDM5 histone demethylases repress immune response via suppression of STING
Wu L, Cao J, Cai WL, Lang SM, Horton JR, Jansen DJ, Liu ZZ, Chen JF, Zhang M, Mott BT, Pohida K, Rai G, Kales SC, Henderson MJ, Hu X, Jadhav A, Maloney DJ, Simeonov A, Zhu S, Iwasaki A, Hall MD, Cheng X, Shadel GS, Yan Q. KDM5 histone demethylases repress immune response via suppression of STING. PLOS Biology 2018, 16: e2006134. PMID: 30080846, PMCID: PMC6095604, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006134.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricEpigenetic markers and therapeutic targets for metastasis
Kravitz C, Yan Q, Nguyen D. Epigenetic markers and therapeutic targets for metastasis. Cancer And Metastasis Reviews 2023, 42: 427-443. PMID: 37286865, PMCID: PMC10595046, DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10109-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricAn in vivo screen identifies NAT10 as a master regulator of brain metastasis
Chen J, Xu P, Cai W, Chen H, Wingrove E, Shi X, Li W, Biancon G, Zhang M, Balabaki A, Krop E, Asare E, Zhang Y, Yin M, Tebaldi T, Meier J, Westbrook T, Halene S, Liu Y, Shen H, Nguyen D, Yan Q. An in vivo screen identifies NAT10 as a master regulator of brain metastasis. Science Advances 2025, 11: eads6021. PMID: 40138393, PMCID: PMC11939035, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads6021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2026
Lysine lactylation regulates ATF4-mediated stress responses under glucose starvation in canine hemangiosarcoma
Suzuki T, Heishima K, Yamazaki J, Yamazaki M, Kinoshita R, Kim S, Hosoya K, Okamatsu-Ogura Y, Sasaki M, Xu P, Yan Q, Kimura T, Aoshima K. Lysine lactylation regulates ATF4-mediated stress responses under glucose starvation in canine hemangiosarcoma. Frontiers In Veterinary Science 2026, 13: 1734339. PMID: 41767677, PMCID: PMC12936438, DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1734339.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Breast Cancer Alliance
2014 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsMemberDetailsMember, Reviewer Committeeactivity American Society for Investigative Pathology
11/19/2014 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberDetailsCo-chair, Gene Expression Scientific Interest Groupactivity Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program
09/30/2012 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsMemberDetailsAd hoc reviewer, FY17-FY23 Programmatic Panel; Member, FY12 study sectionactivity NIH
2017 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsReviewerDetailsAd hoc member, Cancer Genetics (CG), Cancer Molecular Pathobiology (CAMP), Mechanisms of Cancer Therapeutics-1 (MCT1), NCI SPORE (P50), and F09A Fellowships Oncology Study Sectionactivity Cancer and Metastasis Reviews
12/01/2023 - PresentJournal ServiceAssociate Editor
Honors
honor Fellow
11/01/2025National AwardAmerican Association for the Advancement of Sciencehonor Elected member
03/15/2025National Awardthe Pluto Society (the American Society of University Pathologists)honor Outstanding Investigator Award
10/23/2023National AwardAmerican Society for Investigative PathologyDetailsUnited Stateshonor Basic Science Research Prize
12/31/2021Yale University AwardYale Cancer CenterDetailsUnited Stateshonor Class of '61 Cancer Research Award
12/31/2019Yale University AwardYale Cancer CenterDetailsUnited States
News & Links
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News
- March 27, 2026Source: Yale News
Two from YSM Named AAAS Fellows
- February 10, 2026
Yale Cancer Center's CRTEC Hosts Cancer Research Discovery Program
- October 19, 2025Source: CT Patch
CT BHI Announces Recipients of 2025 Breast Cancer Research and Education Grants
- October 15, 2025
Y-Age Symposium Draws Crowd for Day-Long Discussion on Human Longevity
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Locations
Brady Memorial Laboratory
Lab
310 Cedar St, Rm BML338
New Haven, CT 06510
Fax
203.785.2443Appointments
203.785.6496Department of Pathology
Academic Office
Brady Memorial Laboratory
310 Cedar St, Rm BML348C
New Haven, CT 06510
Fax
203.785.2443Appointments
203.785.6672