CHENG-RAN XU   Ph.D.

Professor

1995 - 1999, Fudan University, B.S.

2000 - 2005, Peking University, Ph.D.

2005 - 2008, The Scripps Research Institute, Research Associate

2008 - 2009, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Postdoctoral Associate

2009 - 2013, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Research Associate/Senior Investigator

2013 - 2020, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Investigator

2021 - 2026, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Investigator

2013 - 2026, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Investigator

2026 - present, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Professor

2026 - present, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Investigator

 

Research interest

Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine: Directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells and tissue and organ regeneration;

Developmental Biology: Developmental mechanisms of mammalian endoderm-derived organs, including the liver and pancreas;

Systems Biology: Coordinated regulation of gene regulatory networks during development and regeneration by cell signaling and epigenetic mechanisms.

Selected publications

（# Co-first author; * Corresponding author）

1. Li Yang*, Yu-Heng Zhou, Junya Hayase, Lei Wang, Weiguang Zhang, Erfei Bi*, Cheng-Ran Xu*. PAR3-mediated coordination of hepatocyte proliferation, maturation, and architecture in liver development and regeneration. Nature Communications, doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-74476-0 (2026).

2. Xin-Xin Yu^#, Xin Wang^#, Liu Yang, Mao-Yang He, Xi Wang, Yi-Ning Wang, Ke-Ran Li, Cheng-Ran Xu*. Reconstructing human pancreatic gene networks enhances stem cell-derived β cell induction. Developmental Cell, 61(2): 276-291 (2026).

3. Li Yang^#, Yu Zhang^#, Xin-Xin Yu^#, Yu-Heng Zhou^#, Shuang He, Liu Yang, Tong-Yun Mao, Jun-Ge Yang, Ying Wu, Qi-Qi Zheng, Xun-Kai Li, Hou-Zao Chen, Cheng-Ran Xu*, Hepatocyte metabolic adaptations during pregnancy and lactation. Cell, 188(23):6572-6590 (2025).

4. Ke-Ran Li^#, Pei-Long Yu^#, Qi-Qi Zheng^#, Xin Wang, Xuan Fang, Lin-Chen Li and Cheng-Ran Xu*, Spatiotemporal and genetic cell lineage tracing of endodermal organogenesis at single-cell resolution. Cell, 188(3):796-813 (2025).

5. Liu Yang^#, Xin-Xin Yu^#, Xin Wang, Chen-Tao Jin, Cheng-Ran Xu*, The expression order determines the pioneer functions of NGN3 and NEUROD1 in pancreatic endocrine differentiation. Science Advances, 22(13): eadt4770 (2025).

6. Yu Zhang^#, Shuang He^#, Xi Wang, Xin Wang, Mao-Yang He, Xin-Xin Yu, Cheng-Ran Xu*, ACSS2 mediates an epigenetic pathway to regulate β-cell adaptation during gestation in mice. Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58322-3 (2025).

7. Xin-Xin Yu, Peng Peng, Chen-Tao Jin, Mao-Yang He, Shuang He, Liu Yang, Xi Wang, Jia-Xi Zheng, Jie Gao, Cheng-Ran Xu*, Comprehensive characterization of bihormonal cells and endocrine cell lineages in mammalian pancreatic islets. Advanced Science, doi: 10.1002/advs.202416326 (2025).

8. Li Yang^#, Xin Wang^#, Jia-Xi Zheng, Zi-Ran Xu, Lin-Chen Li, Yu-Long Xiong, Bi-Chen Zhou, Jie Gao, Cheng-Ran Xu*, Determination of key events in mouse hepatocyte maturation at the single-cell level. Developmental Cell, 58(19):1996-2010 (2023).

9. Li Yang^#, Xin Wang^#, Xin-Xin Yu, Lu Yang, Jing Yang, Cheng-Ran Xu*, The default and directed pathways of hepatoblast differentiation involve distinct epigenomic mechanisms. Developmental Cell, 58(18): 1688-1700 (2023).

10. Xin-Xin Yu^#, Wei-Lin Qiu^#, Liu Yang^#, Yan-Chun Wang^#, Mao-Yang He, Dan Wang, Yu Zhang, Lin-Chen Li, Jing Zhang, and Yi Wang, Cheng-Ran Xu*, Sequential progenitor states mark the generation of pancreatic endocrine lineages in mice and humans. Cell Research, 31(8): 886-903 (2021).

11. Lin-Chen Li^#, Xin Wang^#, Zi-Ran Xu^#, Yan-Chun Wang^#, Ye Feng, Liu Yang, Wei-Lin Qiu, Li Yang, Xin-Xin Yu, Jun Gu, Cheng-Ran Xu*, Single-cell patterning and axis characterization in the murine and human definitive endoderm. Cell Research, 31(3): 326-344 (2021).

12. Xin Wang^#, Li Yang^#, Yan-Chun Wang^#, Zi-Ran Xu, Ye Feng, Jing Zhang, Yi Wang, Cheng-Ran Xu*, Comparative analysis of cell lineage differentiation during hepatogenesis in humans and mice at the single-cell transcriptome level. Cell Research, 30(12):1109-1126 (2020).

13. Xin-Xin Yu^#, Wei-Lin Qiu^#, Liu Yang, Yu Zhang, Mao-Yang He, Lin-Chen Li, Cheng-Ran Xu*, Defining multistep cell fate decision pathways during pancreatic development at single-cell resolution. The EMBO Journal, 15;38(8):e100164 (2019).

14. Li Yang^#, Wei-Hua Wang^#, Wei-Lin Qiu^#, Zhen Guo, Erfei Bi, Cheng-Ran Xu*, A single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals precise pathways and regulatory mechanisms underlying hepatoblast differentiation. Hepatology, 66(5):1387-1401 (2017).

15. Wei-Lin Qiu^#, Yu-Wei Zhang^#, Ye Feng^#, Lin-Chen Li, Liu Yang, Cheng-Ran Xu*, Deciphering pancreatic islet β-cell and α-cell maturation pathways and characteristic features at the single-cell level. Cell Metabolism, 25:1194-1205 (2017).

 

Contact information

E-mail: crxu@tsinghua.edu.cn