Damon Runyon Researchers

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), or DNA not attached to a chromosome, has been found in nearly half of human cancer types, especially in aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, leukemia, lung, and ovarian cancer. Despite being a potent cancer driver, the mechanisms underlying ecDNA regulation remain largely unexplored. Combining both advanced imaging and cutting-edge sequencing technologies, Dr. Yan [Connie and Bob Lurie Fellow] is investigating how ecDNA is spatially organized in cells and genetically inherited over generations. She hopes to reveal new mechanisms of DNA regulation and inheritance other than the canonical chromosome and help develop new ways to treat patients with ecDNA-driven cancers. Dr. Yan received her PhD from the University of California, San Francisco, and her BS from Peking University.