Dr. Qian received his PhD in Toxicology in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Georgia in December 2012. After graduation, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow and scientist in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University. Dr. Qian was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler in July 2019. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and serves as a reviewer for many scientific journals. Dr. Qian is an active member of the American Thoracic Society and American Heart Association.

Dr. Qian’s current research focuses on the novel immune and inflammatory molecules and pathways that are critical for the development of pulmonary fibrosis, pleural fibrosis, lung cancer and metabolic diseases. His research interest lies in posttranslational modification, cell phenotypic modulation, invasion and metastasis, apoptosis, druggable target discovery, biomarker development and chemoprevention with natural compounds.

Education & Training

  • Assistant Scientist, Emory University, 2019
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Emory University, 2018
  • PhD, The University of Georgia, Toxicology, 2012

Courses Taught

  • BIOT5222/BIOT5222L - Advanced Metabolism/Lab
  • BIOT 6311 - Biotechnology I
  • BIOT5132 - Critical Reading II
  • BIOT 5310 - Fundamentals of Biomedical Research

Research Interest

  • Pulmonary and pleural fibrosis
  • Posttranslational modification
  • Cell phenotypic modulation
  • Cell migration, invasion, and metastasis
  • Molecular biomarkers and chemoprevention

Publication Highlights

Guo X., Adeyanju O., S Olajuyin A., Mandlem V., Sunil C., Huang S., Tucker T.A., Idell S., and Qian G. (2023). MARCH8 downregulation modulates profibrotic responses including myofibroblast differentiation. Am J Physiol.- Cell Physiol. 325(5):C1190-C1200.

Qian G., Adeyanju O., Cai D., Tucker T.A., Idell S., Chen S-Y., and Guo X. (2023). DOCK2 promotes atherosclerosis through mediating vascular endothelial cell inflammation. Am J Pathol. S0002-9440(23)00377-2.

Guo X., Adeyanju O., Sunil C., Mandlem V., Olajuyin A., Huang S., Chen S-Y., Tucker T.A., Idell S., and Qian G. (2022). DOCK2 contributes to pulmonary fibrosis by promoting lung fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. Am J Physiol. - Cell Physiol. 323(1):C133-C144.

Guo X., Adeyanju O., Sunil C., Huang S., Tucker T.A., Idell S., and Qian G. (2022). PD-L1 mediates lung fibroblast to myofibroblast transition through Smad3 and β-catenin signaling pathways. Sci Rep. 12: 3053.

Qian G.*, Adeyanju O., Roy S., Sunil C., Guo X., Ikebe M., Idell S., and Tucker T.A. (2022). Dedicator of cytokinesis 2 promotes pleural fibrosis by modulating mesothelial to mesenchymal transition. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 66(2), pp 171–182. (*, corresponding author) (Editorial Pick: DOCK-t(w)o Pleural Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2022 Feb;66(2):117-119.)

Qian G., Adeyanju O., Sunil C., Huang S.K., Chen S-Y., Tucker T.A., Idell S., and Guo X. (2022). Dedicator of Cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) Deficiency Attenuates Lung Injury Associated with Chronic High-Fat and High-Fructose Diet-Induced Obesity. Am J Pathol. 192(2):226-238.

Qian G., Guo J., Vallega K.A., Hu C., Chen Z., Deng Y., Wang Q., Fan S., Ramalingam S.S., Owonikoko T.K., Wei W., and Sun S-Y. (2021). Membrane-associated RING-CH 8 functions as a novel PD-L1 E3 ligase to mediate PD-L1 degradation induced by EGFR inhibitors. Mol Cancer Res. 19(10):1622–34.

Deng L.*, Qian G.*, Zhang S., Lesinski, G., Owonikoko T.W., Ramalingam S.S., and Sun S-Y. (2019) Inhibition of mTOR complex 1/p70 S6 kinase signaling elevates PD-L1 levels in human cancer cells through enhancing protein stabilization accompanied with enhanced β-TrCP degradation. Oncogene. 38(35):6270-6282. (* Equal contribution)

Qian G., Yao W., Zhang S., Bajpai R., Hall W.D., Shanmugam M., Lonial S., and Sun S-Y. (2018). Co-inhibition of BET and proteasome enhances ER stress and Bim-dependent apoptosis with augmented cancer therapeutic efficacy. Cancer Lett. 435:44-54.