Xue Yuan, PhD

Bio

Xue Yuan, PhD, joined Indiana University School of Medicine faculty in 2021 after completing Postdoctoral training in the Department of Surgery at Stanford University.

Dr. Yuan recently received funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and is leading research projects to investigate oral epithelial stem cells and head and neck cancers.

Dr. Yuan is most interested to identify adult stem cells because these cells are critical regenerative precursors in the context of wound repair. As stem cells age, their functional ability also deteriorates and reflects as the decline of tissue regenerative ability. In another way, abnormal hyperactive stem cells are considered a high-risk factor for cancer, as they have tumorigenic potential. Therefore, she believes studies of adult stem cells and their regulatory mechanisms hold the promise for therapeutic intervention in regenerative medicine, aging, and cancer. 

Key Publications

Yuan X, Chen J, Gauer J, Xu Q, Van Brunt L, Helms J. "The junctional epithelium is maintained by a stem cell population ". Journal of Dental Research, 2021, 100 (2), 209-216. (Cover)

Yuan X, Chen J, Van Brunt L, Grauer J, Xu Q, Pei X, Wang L, Zhao Y, and Helms J. "Formation and regeneration of a Wnt-responsive junctional epithelium". Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2020, 47(12), 1476-1484.

Yuan X, Xu Q, Zhang X, Van Brunt L, Ticha P, Helms J. “Regulation of stem cell fate in the oral mucosa by Wnt.” iScience, 2019, 21: 84-94.

Yuan X, Pei X, Zhao Y, Tulu S, Liu B, Helms J. "A Wnt-Responsive PDL Population Effectuates Extraction Socket Healing." Journal of dental research, 2018, 97(7), 803-809.

Yuan X, Cao J, He X, Serra R, Qu J, Cao X, Yang S. "Ciliary IFT80 balances canonical versus non-canonical hedgehog signaling for osteoblast differentiation." Nature Communications 7 (2016).