Education

2005 University of California, San Diego, USA, Ph.D.

1993 Xian Jiaotong University, China, M.D.

Academic Experience

2019-present National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Associate Investigator

2012-2019   National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Assistant Investigator

2006-2012   University of California, San Francisco, USA, Postdoc

1993-1997   First hospital, Xian Jiaotong University, China, Medical Residency

Overview of Academic Research

Lung diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The lung epithelium is not only essential for lung gas exchange function, it also functions as an important barrier to protect our body from harm. Therefore, the lung undergoes changes throughout life due to aging as well as in response to infection, smoking, air pollution, and other harmful stimuli. In response to injuries, the lung epithelium is able to rapidly repair and regenerate to restore an intact epithelial barrier and recover normal lung function.

 

Our laboratory has two main research goals:

 

1.  Elucidate the cellular and molecular bases of lung regeneration. Using a convergence of mouse genetics, cell biology, intravital live imaging, and state-of-the-art sequencing technology, we aim to investigate the genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying the complex orchestration of lung regeneration. Our studies will provide insights to develop therapeutic strategies to induce lung tissue repair and regeneration in diseased lungs to achieve the goal of treating various lung diseases.

 

2.  Investigate the underlying pathogenesis of lung disease. Using various animal models of lung disease established in our laboratory, combined with a large number of normal human and patient lung tissue samples, we aim to explore the mechanisms underlying the onset and development of lung diseases. Results from these studies will help discover new therapeutic targets and strategies for the treatment of lung diseases.

Major Honor and Awards

2023 ISSCR Program Committee

2021 Editorial Board of American Journal of Physiology

2021 China's Important Medical Progress in 2020, CAMS

2019 Editorial Board of Developmental Cell

2018 Gu Lecture Award

2012 American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant

2010 Sandler Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, UCSF

2009-2011 NIH Training grant 5T32HL007185, UCSF

2006-2009 American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship

2003 Keystone Symposia Scholarship

2000 Michael Kriegler Graduate Student Award in Molecular Medicine, UCSD

 

 

Representative Research Achievements 

1. Siling Fu, Yanxiao Wang, Ennan Bin, Huanwei Huang, Fengchao Wang, Nan Tang*. c-JUN-mediated transcriptional responses in lymphatic endothelial cells are required for lung fluid clearance at birth. PNAS. 2023, 120(2): e2215449120.

2.Jiao Li, Nan Tang*. Alveolar stem cell in lung development and regrowth. ERS Monograph on Lung Stem Cells in Development, Health and Disease. 2021, 91:17-30

3. Jingyu Chen JY, Huijuan Wu, Yuanyuan Yu, Nan Tang*. Pulmonary alveolar regeneration in adult COVID-19 patients. Cell Research.

2020, 30: 708-710.

4.Huijuan Wu, Yuanyuan Yu, Huanwei Huang, Yucheng Hu, Siling Fu, Zheng Wang, Mengting Shi, Xi Zhao, Jie Yuan, Jiao Li, Xueyi Yang, Ennan Bin, Dong Wei, Hongbin Zhang, Jin Zhang, ChunYang, Tao Cai, Huaping Dai, Jingyu Chen, Nan Tang*. Progressive pulmonary fibrosis is caused by sustained elevated mechanical tension on alveolar stem cells. Cell, 202, 180(1):107-121.e17.

5. Jiao Li, Zheng Wang, Qiqi Chu, Kewu Jiang, Juan Li, Nan Tang*. The strength of mechanical forces determines the differentiation of alveolar epithelial cells. Dev Cell. 2018, 44(3):297-312. 

6. Yanjie Wang, Zan Tang, Huanwei Huang, Jiao Li, Zheng Wang, Yuanyuan Yu, Chengwei Zhang, Juan Li, Huaping Dai, Fengchao Wang, Tao Cai, Nan Tang*. Pulmonary alveolar type I cell population consists of two distinct subtypes that differ in cell fate. PNAS. 2018, 115(10):2407-2412. 

7. Zan Tang, Yucheng Hu, Zheng Wang, Kewu Jiang, Cheng Zhan, Wallace F. Marshall, Nan Tang*. Mechanical forces program the orientation of cell division during airway tube morphogenesis. Dev Cell. 2018, 44(3):313-325. 

8. Zheng Wang, Nan Tang*. The LUNGe to model alveolar lung diseases in a dish. Cell Stem Cell. 2017, 21(4):413-414.

9. Liu Z, Wu HJ, Jiang KW, Wang YJ, Zhang WJ, Chu QQ, Li J, Huang HW, Cai T, Ji HB, Yang C, Nan Tang*. MAPK-mediated YAP activation controls mechanical-tension-induced pulmonary alveolar regeneration. Cell Reports. 2016, 16(7):1810-9.

10. Nan Tang, Wallace F. Marshall, Martin McMahon, Ross J. Metzger, Gail R. Martin. Control of mitotic spindle angle by the RAS-regulated ERK1/2 Pathway determines lung tube shape. Science. 2011, 333:342-5