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.

Email: jianyang@mail.kiz.ac.cn

Research Areas and Progress in 2013

ICDC’s main research focuses on finding active molecules from natural products (including animals, plants and traditional Chinese medicine) that selectively act on physiological important and disease-related ion channels such as VGCCs, TRP 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.

Main research process in 2013：(1) We discovered that some serious side effects of several commonly used commercial drugs are associated with the activation of specific types of ion channels. (2) We found that components from many plants and traditional Chinese medicine can increase or decrease the activity of specific types of ion channels. (3) We built a facility to separate and purify active components and single molecules from plants and traditional Chinese medicine. (4) We obtained single molecules that show robust effects on specific types of ion channels. 

Research Team

Laboratory Staff

Prof. Jan Yang

Prof. Jian-Min Cui

Prof. Ming Zhou

Prof. Feng Qin

Prof. Hao-Xin Xu

Shu Wang, Associate Professor，wangshu@mail.kiz.ac.cn

Yin Nian, Associate Professor，nianyin@mail.kib.ac.cn

Dan Tang, Lab Manager，tangdan@mail.kiz.ac.cn

Jin-Sheng Hu, Technician，hujinsheng@mail.kiz.ac.cn

Ye Gong, Technician，gongye@mail.kiz.ac.cn

Graduate Students

Chen-Jun Ye； De-Yuan Su；Hong-Zhao Guo；Hong Zhao；He-Hai Jiang