Zhen Yan, PhD

ACTIVE MEMBER • Professor and Director

Center for Exercise Medicine Research

Google Scholar • Dept Page

zhenyan1@vtc.vt.edu

Dr. Zhen Yan is Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Exercise Medicine Research at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion. Trained as a surgeon in China, Dr. Yan obtained his M.S. degree (1991) in Kinesiology from University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Ph.D. degree (1995) in Physiology and Cell Biology from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and post-doctoral training (1999) in Molecular Cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He then served as a Lead Scientist (2000-2002) in the Alliance for Cellular Signaling led by Nobel Laureate Alfred Gilman. Dr. Yan has devoted to exercise research for over thirty years. Using the state-of-the-art molecular genetics and molecular imaging in animal models of exercise, Dr. Yan has made significant contributions to the understanding of the molecular signaling mechanisms underlying the health benefits of exercise, particularly in the area of mitochondrial remodeling, antioxidant defense and maternal exercise during pregnancy against parental obesity impacts on offspring. Dr. Yan is the recipient of NIH Molecular Transducer of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC) U01 funding, 2021 Distinguished Researcher Award of the University of Virginia and 2022 Jacobæus Prize of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Dr. Yan serves as Associate Editor of Sports Medicine and Health Science (SMHS) and Vice Chairman for International Research Group of Biochemistry of Exercise (IRGBE).