Dr. Fan Is A Research Scientist
![](https://chapkinlab.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Yang-Fan.jpg)
Education
B.S., National Chung Shing University, Taiwan, Animal Science, 1989
M.S., Texas A&M University, Nutrition, 1992
Ph.D., Texas A&M University, Nutrition, 1996
Biography
I have always been interested in biological science since I was a little kid. I enjoy exploring the unknown and applying new knowledge to daily life. I like the proactive role in health prevention rather than treatment. Therefore, I chose to study the chemopreventive impact of natural nutrients on human health.
Research
My overall research focus is on how natural dietary nutrients, especially n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, modulate the progression of inflammation and colon cancer. Recent studies include the following three areas: (1) Elucidation of mechanisms by which diet modulates tumor suppressing genes and cancer causing genes (oncogenes) and their downstream signaling pathways in the colon. (2) Novel insight into the effects of dietary lipids on membrane biology and nutritional modulation of cell membrane-cytoskeletal structure and function. (3) Development of innovative methodology for measuring the bioenergetic profiles of colonic crypts, organoids and sorted stem cells.