Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Exercise and muscle physiology with focus on cell signalling
  • Nutrition and dietary therapy in chronic diseases prevention and treatment
  • Muscle biochemistry
  • Genetics and adaptation to training in health and disease

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Xu (Sean) Yan

Dr Sean Yan is an expert in muscle physiology and biochemistry. His research mainly focuses on nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle interventions in health and disease, with the aim to improve exercise performance and health outcomes.

Sean completed a Bachelor degree in China before moving to the United States for his postgraduate studies.

In 2012, Dr Yan was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the American Diabetes Association, working as a research fellow with Associate Professor Laurie Goodyear at Joslin Diabetes Centre, Harvard Medical School.

In 2013, Dr Yan was awarded the Victoria University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and relocated to Australia. Dr Yan accepted a Lecturer position from the College of Health and Biomedicine in 2017 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2019.

Dr Yan has published 29 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles (with an H-index of 15), and one book chapter, since 2009. Dr Yan has been awarded more than $280,000 of internal and external research grant funding since joining Victoria University.

Dr Yan contributes to undergraduate teaching in Biomedical Science, and supervises honours, masters (minor thesis) and PhD students in his area of research expertise.

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Wyoming (USA)
  • MS, University of Wyoming (USA)
  • BS, Tongji University (China)

Key publications

Year Citation
2022 Kuang, J., Saner, N. J., Botella, J., Lee, M. JC., Granata, C., Wang, Z., Yan, X., Li, J., Genders, A. J., & Bishop, D. J. (220201). Assessing mitochondrial respiration in permeabilized fibres and biomarkers for mitochondrial content in human skeletal muscle. Acta Physiologica, 234(2),

doi: 10.1111/apha.13772

2022 Li, Y., Li, J., Atakan, M. M., Wang, Z., Hu, Y., Nazif, M., Zarekookandeh, N., Ye, H. Z., Kuang, J., & Ferri, A. (220101). Methods to match high-intensity interval exercise intensity in hypoxia and normoxia - A pilot study. Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness, 20(1), (70-76).

doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2021.12.003

2021 Williams, C. J., Li, Z., Harvey, N., Lea, R. A., Gurd, B. J., Bonafiglia, J. T., Papadimitriou, I., Jacques, M., Croci, I., & Stensvold, D. (211201). Genome wide association study of response to interval and continuous exercise training: the Predict-HIIT study. Journal of Biomedical Science, 28(1),

doi: 10.1186/s12929-021-00733-7

2021 Weng, X., Lin, J., Yuan, Y., Lin, B., Huang, W., Tin, H. T., Li, J., Yan, X., Lin, W., & Chen, H. (211129). Intermittent Hypoxia Exposure Helps to Restore the Reduced Hemoglobin Concentration During Intense Exercise Training in Trained Swimmers. Frontiers in Physiology, 12

doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.736108

2021 Ferri, A., Yan, X., Kuang, J., Granata, C., Oliveira, R. SF., Hedges, C. P., Lima-Silva, A. E., Billaut, F., & Bishop, D. J. (210801). Fifteen days of moderate normobaric hypoxia does not affect mitochondrial function, and related genes and proteins, in healthy men. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(8), (2323-2336).

doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04706-4

2021 Atakan, M. M., Koar, N., Guzel, Y., Tin, H. T., & Yan, X. (210501). The role of exercise, diet, and cytokines in preventing obesity and improving adipose tissue. Nutrients, 13(5),

doi: 10.3390/nu13051459

2021 Weng, X., Chen, H., Yu, Q., Xu, G., Meng, Y., Yan, X., McConell, G., & Lin, W. (210219). Intermittent Hypoxia Exposure Can Prevent Reductions in Hemoglobin Concentration After Intense Exercise Training in Rats. Frontiers in Physiology, 12

doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.627708

2021 Wang, Z., Atakan, M. M., Yan, X., Turnagol, H. H., Duan, H., & Peng, L. (210201). Graded exercise test with or without load carriage similarly measures maximal oxygen uptake in young males and females. PLoS ONE, 16(2 February),

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246303

2020 Harvey, N. R., Voisin, S., Lea, R. A., Yan, X., Benton, M. C., Papadimitriou, I. D., Jacques, M., Haupt, L. M., Ashton, K. J., & Eynon, N. (201201). Investigating the influence of mtDNA and nuclear encoded mitochondrial variants on high intensity interval training outcomes. Scientific Reports, 10(1),

doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67870-1

2020 Li, J., Li, Y., Atakan, M. M., Kuang, J., Hu, Y., Bishop, D. J., & Yan, X. (200801). The molecular adaptive responses of skeletal muscle to high-intensity exercise/training and hypoxia. Antioxidants, 9(8), (1-21).

doi: 10.3390/antiox9080656

Research funding for the past 5 years

Please note:

  • Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
  • Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
  • The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.

The Australia-China Collaborative Training InitiatiVe in Exercise (ACTIVE) Research Program
From: National Foundation for Australia-China Relations 2023-2024 Grants Program
Other investigators: Prof Itamar Levinger, Prof Andrew Mcainch, Prof John Price, Prof Alexandra Parker, Aspr Fabio Serpiello
For period: 2024-2026
$300,000

The effects of high-intensity interval training in hypoxia on key mitochondrial signaling in human skeletal muscle
From: Southwest University, China
Other investigators: Dr Jujiao Kuang, Prof David Bishop, Prof Itamar Levinger
For period: 2022-2023
Not disclosed

High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) at lower intensity under hypoxia is able to trigger similar molecular signalling to induce human muscle protein turnover as HIIE at higher intensity under normoxia.
From: Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS)
Other investigators: Prof Alan Hayes
For period: 2020-2021
$10,000

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
2 PhD Associate supervisor
4 PhD Principal supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (2) Associate supervisor
PhD (4) Principal supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
1 PhD Associate supervisor
1 PhD Principal supervisor
1 PhD by Publication Associate supervisor
2 Master of Research Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (1) Associate supervisor
PhD (1) Principal supervisor
PhD by Publication (1) Associate supervisor
Master of Research (2) Associate supervisor

Other supervision of research students

Sean has supervised 7 honours students, 3 as principal supervisor.

Teaching activities & experience

Current teaching & coordination

Past teaching & unit coordination

2018

  • HBM3203, Integrative Physiology (Undergraduate course, Lecturer), Victoria University (VU)
  • HBM2105, Medical Microbiology (Undergraduate course, Lecturer), VU
  • RBM2530,Pathophysiology 1 (Undergraduate course, Tutor & Demonstrator), VU
  • RBM1202, Bioscience II (Undergraduate course, Unit Convener, Lecturer), VU

2017

  • HBM3200,Bioinformatics Methods (Undergraduate course, Unit Convener, Lecturer & Tutor), VU
  • RBM2202, Pathophysiology and Quality Use of Medicine 2 (Undergraduate course, Unit Convener), VU
  • HBM1101, Gene & Evolutionary Biology (Undergraduate course, Lecturer & Tutor), VU
  • RBM1518, Human Physiology (Undergraduate course, Lecturer & Demonstrator), VU
  • HBM1001, Anatomy & Physiology (Undergraduate course, Lecturer, Tutor & Demonstrator), VU
  • RBM1103, Bioscience I (Undergraduate course, Lecturer), VU
  • RBM1100, Function Anatomy of the Trunk (Undergraduate course, Lecturer), VU
  • SCL3001, Exercise, Health & Disease (Undergraduate course, Tutor & Assessor), VU

2014 – 2016

  • SSC3002, Sport Coaching (Undergraduate course, Demonstrator), VU
  • SCL1002, Exercise Physiology (Undergraduate course, Coordinator, Lecturer & Tutor), VU
  • AHE3100, Advanced Exercise Physiology (Undergraduate course, Lecturer & Tutor), VU

2010 – 2011

  • Muscle structure and function (Postgraduate course, Teaching Assistant), University of Wyoming
  • Cell signaling (Postgraduate course, Teaching Assistant), University of Wyoming
  • Animal physiology (Undergraduate course, Teaching Assistant), University of Wyoming

Key academic roles

Dates Role Department / Organisation
Jan 2019 - Feb 2019
Senior Research Fellow
Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University
Jan 2018 - Feb 2019
Project Director
Australia Institute for Musculoskeletal Science
Jan 2018 - Dec 2018
Research Fellow
Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University
Mar 2017 - Dec 2017
Research Associate
Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University
Jun 2013 - Mar 2017
Research Fellow
Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University
Aug 2011 - Jun 2013
Research Fellow
Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School
Show more academic roles
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Jan 2019 -
Feb 2019
Senior Research Fellow
Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University
Jan 2018 -
Feb 2019
Project Director
Australia Institute for Musculoskeletal Science
Jan 2018 -
Dec 2018
Research Fellow
Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University
Mar 2017 -
Dec 2017
Research Associate
Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University
Jun 2013 -
Mar 2017
Research Fellow
Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University
Aug 2011 -
Jun 2013
Research Fellow
Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School
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Awards

Year Award
2019

DAAD RISE worldwide research scholarship - German Academic Exchange Service

2018

DAAD RISE worldwide research scholarship - German Academic Exchange Service

2017

DAAD RISE worldwide research scholarship - German Academic Exchange Service

2016

Travel Award - CASS Foundation

2016

DAAD RISE worldwide research scholarship - German Academic Exchange Service

2015

Excellence in Research (Early Career) - College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University.

2013

Honorary Research Fellow - Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

2013

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Victoria University

2012

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - American Diabetes Association

2010

Brand of excellence scholarship - University of Wyoming

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Keynote and invited speeches

Year Title/Description
2017

The road to personalized exercise: lessons learned from the Gene SMART study

The 3rd International Conference on Assistive Devices for Sports and Health Promotion (China)

2016

The Gene SMART study, study design and preliminary data

Washington State University (USA)

2016

Personalised exercise training: the aspect of genetics

Sport Science Forum, Beijing Sport University (China)

2015

Genetic testing for athletic performance and trainability: Too early to be trusted.

The University of Sao Paulo (Brazil)

2014

From maternal obesity to offspring obesity, possible epigenetic mechanisms.

26th Congress of the Polish Physiological Society (Poland)

Show more invited keynote speeches

Professional memberships

  • Academic Member, Australian Diabetes Society
  • Academic Member, American College of Sports Medicine
  • Academic Member, Australian Physiological Society
  • Academic Member, American Physiological Society

Media appearances

20th November 2014

Genetic ID on training

Key member of the speed gene study team which was reported by ABC Catalyst