Jian Gao is The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for the September 2023 issue. He is currently a 5th year PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis in the Biomedical Engineering program working in the laboratory of Dr. Nichols in the Department of Cell Biology & Physiology. The JPET article that earned him the honor of being selected as Highlighted Trainee Author is titled, “Rapid Characterization of the Functional and Pharmacological Consequences of Cantú Syndrome KATP Channel Mutations in Intact Cells” and is available at: https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.123.001659.

Mr. Gao’s research focuses on Cantú syndrome, a disease caused by gain-of-function mutations in either Kir6.1 or SUR2B that form smooth muscle KATP channels. He has developed two cell-based assays for studying the influence of clinically discovered mutations on KATP channel functions. He is now evaluating the properties of smooth muscle KATP channel-specific inhibitors.

The anticipated impact of Mr. Gao’s work is to provide practical methods for assessing certain types of ion channels’ activities with different ranges of sensitivities and thus help diagnose genetic channelopathies and discover the mechanisms of ion channel functions. Also, his KATP inhibitor-evaluating project will contribute to identifying novel drug therapies for Cantú syndrome patients as well as basic scientific studies on smooth muscle KATP channels.

Outside of the Lab, Jian enjoys reading and listening to music. He also enjoys watching various entertainment shows.