Shirley ShiDu Yan Lab

Shirley ShiDu Yan, MD

Contact

Phone: (212) 342-0494
Email: sdy1@cumc.columbia.edu

Current Research Focus

Dr. Yan investigates mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic degeneration, and metabolic impairment associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, age-related dementia, cognitive decline, and diabetes. Her research focuses on amyloid and tau metabolism, neuroinflammation, age-related metabolites, and translational approaches that preserve mitochondrial integrity and neuronal function using both human samples and animal models.

Selected Recent Publications (2024–Present)

  • Mitochondrial oxidative stress promotes the accumulation of advanced glycation end products. PLOS One (2026).
  • Pink1-dependent NFκB signaling contributes to amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Autophagy (2025).
  • Synaptic mitochondria glycation contributes to mitochondrial stress and cognitive dysfunction. Brain (2025).
  • Amyloid pathology impairs experience-dependent inhibitory synaptic plasticity. Journal of Neuroscience (2024).
  • New cyclophilin D inhibitor rescues mitochondrial and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease. Brain (2024).

Grants & Funding (2024–Present)

  • Research projects are currently supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Awards & Honors

  • Dolph C. Simons Award in Biomedical Science
  • NIH MERIT Award (National Institute on Aging)
  • Zenith Fellows Award, Alzheimer's Association

Leadership & Other Important Contributions

  • Serves on NIH and foundation research grant review committees.
  • Leads translational research on mitochondrial biology and neurodegenerative disease.
  • Research program has maintained continuous NIH support.