Yuan Pan
Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine
About Yuan Pan
Dr. Yuan Pan’s research program lies at the intersection of neuroscience and cancer biology. She trained with Drs. David Gutmann and Michelle Monje in cancer neuroscience, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), and glial biology. Her recent work has revealed that neuronal activity synchronizes with germline Nf1 (a tumor suppressor) mutation to drive the initiation and maintenance of optic pathway glioma (Pan et al., Nature, 2021). This contribution to the emerging field of cancer neuroscience has opened exciting new avenues for developing treatment strategies for patients with cancer.
In 2022, Dr. Pan established an independent research program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and quickly secured research funding for her group. The Pan Lab is focused on understanding the interactions between neurons, cancer cells, and chemotherapy. These efforts aim to shed light on the pathogenesis of several types of nervous system cancers and to provide potential strategies for predicting, treating, and preventing these cancers and improving patient quality of life.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor (Joint appointment), Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Cancer Neuroscience, Neuron-glia interaction, NF1
Clinical Interests
Findings from that study have contributed to the exciting emerging field of cancer neuroscience, which opens new avenues for developing treatment strategies for cancer patients
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2015 | University of Iowa, Iowa City, Biochemistry, Ph.D |
| 2010 | Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong, CN, Life Science, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2018-2020 | Research Fellowship, Cancer Neuroscience, Stanford University, Stanford, California |
| 2015-2017 | Research Fellowship, Cancer Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, Houston, TX, 2022 - Present
Research Scientist, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2020 - 2022
Honors & Awards
| 2022 | CPRIT Recruitment of First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members Award |
| 2022 | UT Rising STARS Award |
| 2021 | Society for Neuro-Oncology 2021 Pediatric Basic Science Award |
| 2021 | Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Young Investigator Award |
| 2019 | Department of Defense NF Research Program Early Investigator Award, Department of Defense |
| 2018 | Ian’s Friends Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| 2016 | McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Postdoc Fellowship |
| 2014 | Graduate & Professional Student Government Grant, University of Iowa |
| 2012 | Lois Bigger Gehring Award for the Best Presentation |
| 2011 | Midwest Eye Research Symposium Outstanding Oral Presentation |
| 2010 | First Honor Graduate, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology |
| 2009 | Lee Hysan Foundation Scholarship, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology |
| 2007 - 2010 | Dean's List, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
National Presentations
- 2022. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, Brain Immunology & Glia Symposium. Conference. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, Brain Immunology & Glia Symposium. St. Louis, MO, US.
- 2021. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation. Conference. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, US.
- 2021. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation. Conference. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation. Boston, MA, US.
- 2021. Cancer predisposition synergizes with neuronal activity to promote brain tumor initiation. Conference. Cancer predisposition synergizes with neuronal activity to promote brain tumor initiation, US.
- 2021. Cancer predisposition synergizes with neuronal activity to promote brain tumor initiation. Conference. Cancer predisposition synergizes with neuronal activity to promote brain tumor initiation, US.
- 2021. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation. Conference. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, US.
- 2021. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Research Conference. Conference. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Research Conference, US.
- 2021. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, NF Conference. Conference. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, NF Conference, US.
- 2021. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, Annual ALSF Young Investigator Summit. Conference. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent optic glioma initiation, Annual ALSF Young Investigator Summit, US.
- 2021. Cancer predisposition synergizes with neuronal activity to promote brain tumor initiation. Conference. Cancer predisposition synergizes with neuronal activity to promote brain tumor initiation, US.
- 2020. Using Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) to Understand Pediatric Brain Tumor Initiation. Conference. Using Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) to Understand Pediatric Brain Tumor Initiation, US.
- 2019. Neuronal activity drives the initiation of optic pathway glioma in neurofibromatosis-1. Conference. Neuronal activity drives the initiation of optic pathway glioma in neurofibromatosis-1. Stanford, CA, US.
- 2018. Defining the role of neuronal activity on the initiation and growth of NF1-associated optic glioma. Conference. Defining the role of neuronal activity on the initiation and growth of NF1-associated optic glioma. Stanford, CA, US.
- 2018. Athymic mice reveal a requirement for T-cell–microglia interactions in establishing a microenvironment supportive of Nf1 low-grade glioma growth. Conference. Athymic mice reveal a requirement for T-cell–microglia interactions in establishing a microenvironment supportive of Nf1 low-grade glioma growth. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2018. T-cell–microglia interactions in establishing a microenvironment supportive of Nf1 low-grade glioma growth. Conference. T-cell–microglia interactions in establishing a microenvironment supportive of Nf1 low-grade glioma growth. Iowa City, IA, US.
- 2017. Dissecting autocrine signaling in malignant brain tumors. Conference. Dissecting autocrine signaling in malignant brain tumors. St. Louis, MO, US.
- 2016. Using mouse models to understand normal brain and brain tumor development. Conference. Using mouse models to understand normal brain and brain tumor development. St. Louis, MO, US.
- 2014. Trafficking of HCN1 channels in the early secretory pathway: Discovery of a di-arginine ER retention signal using Xenopus photoreceptors as a model system. Conference. Trafficking of HCN1 channels in the early secretory pathway: Discovery of a di-arginine ER retention signal using Xenopus photoreceptors as a model system. Waterville Valley, NH, US.
- 2013. HCN1 trafficking in rod photoreceptors. Conference. HCN1 trafficking in rod photoreceptors. Iowa City, IA, US.
- 2013. Multiple isoforms of TRIP8b, a regulator of HCN channels, are expressed in retina. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Conference. Multiple isoforms of TRIP8b, a regulator of HCN channels, are expressed in retina. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Seattle, WA, US.
- 2012. Trafficking of HCN1 in photoreceptors. Conference. Trafficking of HCN1 in photoreceptors. Iowa City, IA, US.
- 2012. Characterization of HCN1 trafficking in rod photoreceptors, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Conference. Characterization of HCN1 trafficking in rod photoreceptors, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Fort Lauderdale, FL, US.
- 2011. Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channel 1 (HCN1) trafficking in rod photoreceptors. Conference. Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channel 1 (HCN1) trafficking in rod photoreceptors. Iowa City, IA, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2025 - 2030 |
| Title: | How cancer “senses” the environment via the nervous system |
| Funding Source: | Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00022835 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | Cancer-neuron crosstalk in the pathophysiology of peripheral nerve sheath tumors |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | NF230005 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | Understanding the role of neurons in retinoblastoma growth |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Acid-sensing ion channel 1a regulates synapse-glioblastoma integration |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NINDS |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01NS136225-01A1 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Deciphering the role of cancer pain-associated neuronal activity in driving malignancies |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NINDS |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01CA296416 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | Uncovering the role of neuronal activity in peripheral nerve cancer |
| Funding Source: | Andrew Sabin Family Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | Nf1 loss in OPCs disrupts cellular activity in response to neuron-OPC crosstalk |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Acid-sensing ion channel 1a regulates synapse-glioblastoma integration |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NINDS |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 NS136225 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | Understanding NRF2 repression in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) growth and pain |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RP240220 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2027 |
| Title: | Understanding NRF2 repression in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) growth and pain |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RP240220 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | Investigate the role of Nf1/KRAS axis in maintaining homeostasis and plasticity of oligodendrocyte precursor cells |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 NS132862 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | Interrogating Tumor-Immune-Neuron Crosstalk At Single-Cell Resolution In A Panel Of Novel Somatic Transgenic Nf1 Tumor Models |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | W81XWH-22-NFRP-SIA |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | Genetics and the Environment: evaluating how maternal dietary exposure affects neurodevelopment and cognition in NF1 |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | W81XWH-22-NFRP-IIRA |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | Investigate neuronal activity-dependent regulation of retinoblastoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 CA282199 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | Oligodendroglial plasticity-mediated neurological deficits in neurogenetic diseases |
| Funding Source: | McKnight Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00018182 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | How Does Sensory Experience Drive Central Nervous System Neoplasia? |
| Funding Source: | Searle Scholars Program |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00017288 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | Investigating neuron-cancer crosstalk in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor |
| Funding Source: | Andrew Sabin Family Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | Restoring oligodendrocyte precursor function and myelination in NF1 optic glioma |
| Funding Source: | Gilbert Family Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00016745 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | UT System Rising STARs Award |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas System |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 124757 |
| Date: | 2021 - 2026 |
| Title: | Neuronal regulation of nervous system cancer in neurofibromatosis-1 |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RR210085 |
| Date: | 2021 - 2024 |
| Title: | Using neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) to understand pediatric brain tumor initiation |
| Funding Source: | Alex's Lemonade Stand |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00016673 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2021 |
| Title: | Defining the role of neuronal activity on the initiation and growth of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated optic glioma |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Pan Y, Hu J. Hormonal basis of brain fog in cancer treatment. J Exp Med 221(5), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38597926.
- Pan Y, Hysinger JD, Yalçin B, Lennon JJ, Byun YG, Raghavan P, Schindler NF, Anastasaki C, Chatterjee J, Ni L, Xu H, Malacon K, Jahan SM, Ivec AE, Aghoghovwia BE, Mount CW, Nagaraja S, Scheaffer S, Attardi LD, Gutmann DH, Monje M. Nf1 mutation disrupts activity-dependent oligodendroglial plasticity and motor learning in mice. Nat Neurosci. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38816530.
- Amit M, Anastasaki C, Dantzer R, Demir IE, Deneen B, Dixon KO, Egeblad M, Gibson EM, Hervey-Jumper SL, Hondermarck H, Magnon C, Monje M, Na'ara S, Pan Y, Repasky EA, Scheff NN, Sloan EK, Talbot S, Tracey KJ, Trotman LC, Valiente M, Van Aelst L, Venkataramani V, Venkatesh HS, Vermeer PD, Winkler F, Wong RJ, Gutmann DH, Borniger JC. Next directions in the neuroscience of cancers rrising outside the CNS. Cancer Discov 14(4):669-673, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38571430.
- Anastasaki C, Mo J, Chen JK, Chatterjee J, Pan Y, Scheaffer SM, Cobb O, Monje M, Le LQ, Gutmann DH. Neuronal hyperexcitability drives central and peripheral nervous system tumor progression in models of neurofibromatosis-1. Nat Commun 13(1):2785, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35589737.
- Pan Y, Hysinger JD, Barron T, Schindler NF, Cobb O, Guo X, Yalçin B, Anastasaki C, Mulinyawe SB, Ponnuswami A, Scheaffer S, Ma Y, Chang KC, Xia X, Toonen JA, Lennon JJ, Gibson EM, Huguenard JR, Liau LM, Goldberg JL, Monje M, Gutmann DH. NF1 mutation drives neuronal activity-dependent initiation of optic glioma. Nature 594(7862):277-282, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34040258.
- Guo X, Pan Y, Xiong M, Sanapala S, Anastasaki C, Cobb O, Dahiya S, Gutmann DH. Midkine activation of CD8+ T cells establishes a neuron-immune-cancer axis responsible for low-grade glioma growth. Nat Commun 11(1):2177, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32358581.
- Guo X, Pan Y, Gutmann DH. Genetic and genomic alterations differentially dictate low-grade glioma growth through cancer stem cell-specific chemokine recruitment of T cells and microglia. Neuro Oncol 21(10):1250-1262, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31111915.
- Durón C, Pan Y, Gutmann DH, Hardin J, Radunskaya A. Variability of betweenness centrality and its effect on identifying essential genes. Bull Math Biol 81(9):3655-3673, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30350013.
- Pan Y, Xiong M, Chen R, Ma Y, Corman C, Maricos M, Kindler U, Semtner M, Chen YH, Dahiya S, Gutmann DH. Athymic mice reveal a requirement for T-cell-microglia interactions in establishing a microenvironment supportive of Nf1 low-grade glioma growth. Genes Dev 32(7-8):491-496, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29632086.
- Pan Y, Duron C, Bush EC, Ma Y, Sims PA, Gutmann DH, Radunskaya A, Hardin J. Graph complexity analysis identifies an ETV5 tumor-specific network in human and murine low-grade glioma. PLoS One 13(5):e0190001, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29787563.
- Pan Y, Bush EC, Toonen JA, Ma Y, Solga AC, Sims PA, Gutmann DH. Whole tumor RNA-sequencing and deconvolution reveal a clinically-prognostic PTEN/PI3K-regulated glioma transcriptional signature. Oncotarget 8(32):52474-52487, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28881745.
- Solga AC, Toonen JA, Pan Y, Cimino PJ, Ma Y, Castillon GA, Gianino SM, Ellisman MH, Lee DY, Gutmann DH. The cell of origin dictates the temporal course of neurofibromatosis-1 (Nf1) low-grade glioma formation. Oncotarget 8(29):47206-47215, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28525381.
- Pan Y, Smithson LJ, Ma Y, Hambardzumyan D, Gutmann DH. CCL5 establishes an autocrine high-grade glioma growth regulatory circuit critical for mesenchymal glioblastoma survival. Oncotarget 8(20):32977-32989, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28380429.
- Walter C, Crawford L, Lai M, Toonen JA, Pan Y, Sakiyama-Elbert S, Gutmann DH, Pathak A. Increased tissue stiffness in tumors from mice with neurofibromatosis-1 optic glioma. Biophys J 112(8):1535-1538, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28445745.
- Laird JG, Pan Y, Modestou M, Yamaguchi DM, Song H, Sokolov M, Baker SA. Identification of a VxP targeting signal in the flagellar Na+ /K+ -ATPase. Traffic 16(12):1239-53, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26373354.
- Pan Y, Laird JG, Yamaguchi DM, Baker SA. An N-terminal ER export signal facilitates the plasma membrane targeting of HCN1 channels in photoreceptors. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56(6):3514-21, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26030105.
- Pan Y, Laird JG, Yamaguchi DM, Baker SA. A di-arginine ER retention signal regulates trafficking of HCN1 channels from the early secretory pathway to the plasma membrane. Cell Mol Life Sci 72(4):833-43, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25142030.
- Bays JL, Peng X, Tolbert CE, Guilluy C, Angell AE, Pan Y, Superfine R, Burridge K, DeMali KA. Vinculin phosphorylation differentially regulates mechanotransduction at cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions. J Cell Biol 205(2):251-63, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24751539.
- Pan Y, Bhattarai S, Modestou M, Drack AV, Chetkovich DM, Baker SA. TRIP8b is required for maximal expression of HCN1 in the mouse retina. PLoS One 9(1):e85850, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24409334.
Review Articles
- Soucy, JR, Aguzzi, EA, Cho, J, Gilhooley, MJ, Keuthan, C, Luo, Z, Monavarfeshani, A, Saleem, MA, Wang, XW, Wohlschlegel, J, Baranov, P, Di Polo, A, Fortune, B, Gokoffski, KK, Goldberg, JL, Guido, W, Kolodkin, AL, Mason, CA, Ou, Y, Reh, TA, Ross, AG, Samuels, BC, Welsbie, D, Zack, DJ, Johnson, TV, Fouda, AY, Ashok, A, Moshiri, A, Chedotal, A, Reed, AA, Askary, A, Su, AA, La Torre, A, Jalligampala, A, Silva-Lepe, A, Das, A, Wirostko, B, Frankfort, BJ, Sivyer, B, Alapure, B, Young, B, Clark, B, Jones, BW, Hellmer, C, Mitchell, CH, Ufongene, C, Goldman, D, Feldheim, D, Gutmann, DH, Pan, Y. Retinal ganglion cell repopulation for vision restoration in optic neuropathy. Molecular Neurodegeneration 18(1), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37735444.
- Irshad K, Huang YK, Rodriguez P, Lo J, Aghoghovwia BE, Pan Y, Chang KC. The neuroimmune regulation and potential therapeutic strategies of optic pathway glioma. Brain Sci 13(10), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37891793.
- Pan Y, Monje M. Neuron-glial interactions in health and brain cancer. Adv Biol (Weinh) 6(9):e2200122, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35957525.
- Pan Y, Monje M. Activity shapes neural circuit form and function: a historical perspective. J Neurosci 40(5):944-954, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31996470.
- Chen R, Pan Y, Gutmann DH. The power of the few. Genes Dev 31(12):1177-1179, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28765159.
- Ricker CA, Pan Y, Gutmann DH, Keller C. Challenges in drug discovery for neurofibromatosis type 1-associated low-grade glioma. Front Oncol 6:259, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 28066715.
Book Chapters
- Irshad, K, Brossier, N, Pan, Y. Neuronal activity in brain tumor pathogenesis, 3-25, 2023.
- Irshad K, Brossier N, Pan Y. Neuronal activity in brain tumor pathogenesis: adding to the complexities of central nervous system neoplasia. In: Cancer Neuroscience. Springer, 3-25, 2023.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026