Dr Yan has long been engaged in native mass spectrometry, in situ analysis, and multimodal mass spectrometry imaging, focusing on methodological innovation and platform development for characterizing protein interactions and conformational dynamics, as well as metabolic and spatial heterogeneity in cancer. He previously served as a Higher Scientist at the UK National Physical Laboratory, where he led or played key roles in multiple UK National Measurement System projects and industry-collaborative projects with AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and other international pharmaceutical companies. He has secured or contributed to competitive research and industry funding totalling over £1.8 million, with strong expertise in technology development, platform establishment, and translational applications. His leading and collaborative work has been published in journals including Chemical Science, Analyst, Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Nature Metabolism, and Cancer Discovery. He has delivered more than ten oral presentations at major international conferences, including two invited talks, and serves as a reviewer for journals such as Chemical Science, Analyst, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, and RSC Advances. He received the UK National Laboratory Science Award in 2024 and an independent Explorer’s Award research grant in 2025.
Research Areas
- Native mass spectrometry and protein-ligand interaction analysis
- Spatial multi-omics and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI)
- Advanced MS method development and its applications in life sciences
Education
• Ph.D. in Molecular and Biophysics, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 2015
• M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry, Xiamen University, China, 2010
• B.Sc. in Chemistry, Xiamen University, China, 2007
Experience
• 03.2026-Present, Early Career Research Professor, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
• 09.2017-10.2025, Higher Research Scientist, National Physical Laboratory, United Kingdom
• 09.2015-08.2017, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Publications
1. Bin Yan* and Josephine Bunch*, A straightforward method for measuring binding affinities of ligands to proteins of unknown concentration in biological tissues, Chemical Science, 2025, 16, 8673-8681. (cover article)
2. Bin Yan* et al., Differentiation of lactose sample batches from surface impurities by OrbiSIMS, The Analyst, 2025, 150, 3712-3719.
3. Bin Yan* et al., Exploring the catalytic mechanism of ATPase at the molecular level by tandem mass spectrometry, International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 2025, 508, 117393.
4. Johan Vande Voorde, ..., Bin Yan et al., Metabolic profiling stratifies colorectal cancer and reveals adenosylhomocysteinase as a therapeutic target, Nature Metabolism, 2023, 5, 1303-1318.
5. Bin Yan and Josephine Bunch, Probing Folded Proteins and Intact Protein Complexes by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry, Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 2021, 32, 690-699.
6. Bin Yan et al., Direct Tissue Mass Spectrometry Imaging by Atmospheric Pressure UV-Laser Desorption Plasma Postionization, Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 2021, 32, 429-435
Conferences
Oral talk
• “Analysis and comparison of matched FFPE and fresh frozen tissues by multimodal MSI”, British Mass Spectrometry Society Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, UK, 9 Sep 2025
• “A straightforward mass spectrometry method to measure protein-ligand binding affinities”, NextGen Omics 2024, London, UK, 24 Oct 2024 - Invited Talk
• “Comparative multimodal mass spectrometry imaging of FFPE and fresh frozen tissue samples”, 2nd International Mass Spectrometry Imaging Conference, Münster, Germany, 12 Sep 2024
• “Uncovering metabolic signatures associated with the invasiveness of metastatic melanoma by DESI MSI”, 1st International Mass Spectrometry Imaging Conference, Montreal, Canada, 24 Oct 2023
• “Development of ambient mass spectrometry for in-situ protein analysis and its implications in cancer research”, Cancer Grand Challenges Future Leaders Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 3 Nov 2022
• “Multimodal mass spectrometry imaging in cancer research”, 7th EU Pharmaceutical Flow Cytometry and Imaging Meeting, Manchester, UK, 30 Nov 2021 - Invited Talk
Honors & Distinctions
• NPL Explorers Award, National Physical Laboratory, UK — Independent research funding, 2025
• NPL Annual Science Award (Life Sciences Category), National Physical Laboratory, UK, 2024 (Awarded to ten researchers in five NPL science domains, recognizing outstanding scientific innovation and impact)