Haifan Lin, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Lin’s work is focused on the self-renewing mechanism of stem cells, using Drosophila germline stem cells, mouse germline stem cells, and human embryonic stem cells as models. In addition, Dr. Lin studies germline development and cancers related to the malignant proliferation of stem cells. Dr. Lin received his BS degree from Fudan University (1982), and his Ph.D. degree from Cornell University (1990). Following his postdoctoral research at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, he joined the faculty of Duke University Medical School in 1994, where he rose to the rank of Full Professor. He founded and co-directed the Duke Stem Cell Research Program (2005-2006). Dr. Lin moved to Yale in 2006 to establish the Yale Stem Cell Center.

 

Dr. Lin has made key contributions to the demonstration of stem cell asymmetric division, the proof of the stem cell niche theory, the discovery of the Argonuate/PIWI gene family and their essential function in stem cell self-renewal and germline development, as well as the discovery of a novel class of non-coding small RNAs called PIWI-interacting RNSs (piRNSs), which was hailed by the Science Magazine as one of the Ten Scientific Breakthroughs of 2006. Currently, his research is focused on the role of piRNA-meidated mechanisms in regulating stem cell behavior and development.