Jifan Feng, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, Team Lead
Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

2250 Alcazar St.
CSA 144 – HSC 9062
Los Angeles, CA 90033-9062
Phone: (323) 442-1524
Fax: (323) 442-2981
jifanfen@usc.edu

Education
Experience
Publications
Awards

Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
M.B., 2006
Stomatology

University of Bath, Bath, UK
MRes, 2007
Regenerative Medicine

King’s College London, London, UK
Ph.D., 2012
Pre-clinical Dentistry (Cell Biology)

  • 2024 – present – Research Scientist, Team Lead – Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2020 – 2024 – Research Associate – Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2012 – 2019 – Postdoctoral Research Associate – Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

  1. Buchanan C, Chen S, Yuan Y, Guo T, Feng J, Zhang M, Carey G, Howard I, Sanchez J, Ho TV, Chai Y. Loss of Runx2 in Gli1+ osteogenic progenitors prevents bone loss following ovariectomy. JBMR Plus, Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2025, ziae141, https://doi.org/10.1093/jbmrpl/ziae141.

  2. Pei F, Guo T, Zhang M, Ma L, Jing J, Feng J, Ho T-V, Wen Q, Chai Y. FGF signaling modulates mechanotransduction/WNT signaling in progenitors during tooth root development. Bone Res 12, 37 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-024-00345-5.

  3. Zhang M, Guo T, Pei F, Feng J, Jing J, Xu J, Yamada T, Ho T-V, Du J, Sehgal P, Chai Y. ARID1B maintains mesenchymal stem cell quiescence via inhibition of BCL11B-mediated non-canonical Activin signaling. Nat Commun 15, 4614 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48285-2.

  4. Guo T, Pei F, Zhang M, Yamada T, Feng J, Jing J, Ho T-V, Chai, Y. Vascular architecture regulates mesenchymal stromal cell heterogeneity via p53-PDGF signaling in the mouse incisor. Cell Stem Cell. 2024 May 03. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2024.04.011.

  5. Stanton E, Feng J, Kondra K, Sanchez J, Jimenez C, Brown KS, Skiles ML, Urata MM, Chai Y, Hammoudeh JA. A Calvarial Defect Model to Investigate the Osteogenic Potential of Umbilical Cord Stem Cells in Bone Regeneration. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2024 Mar 1;153(3):637-646. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010754. Epub 2023 May 24. PMID: 37224290.

  6. Pei F, Ma L, Guo T, Zhang M, Jing J, Wen Q, Feng J, Lei J, He J, Janečková E, Ho TV, Chen JF, Chai Y. Sensory nerve regulates progenitor cells via FGF-SHH axis in tooth root morphogenesis. Development. 2024 Jan 15;151(2):dev202043. doi: 10.1242/dev.202043. Epub 2024 Jan 11. PMID: 38108472.

  7. Zhang M, Feng J, Li Y, Qin PZ, Chai Y. (2023) Generation of tamoxifen-inducible Tfap2b-CreERT2 mice using CRISPR-Cas9. Genesis. 2023 Dec 8:e23582. doi: 10.1002/dvg.23582. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38069547.

  8. Janečková E, Feng J, Guo T, Han X, Ghobadi A, Araujo-Villalba A, Rahman MS, Ziaei H, Ho TV, Pareek S, Alvarez J, Chai Y. (2023) Canonical Wnt signaling regulates soft palate development by mediating ciliary homeostasis. Development. 2023 Mar 1;150(5):dev201189. doi: 10.1242/dev.201189. Epub 2023 Mar 9. PMID: 36825984; PMCID: PMC10108707.

  9. Pei F, Ma L, Jing J, Feng J, Yuan Y, Guo T, Han X, Ho TV, Lei J, He J, Zhang M, Chen JF, Chai Y. (2023) Sensory nerve niche regulates mesenchymal stem cell homeostasis via FGF/mTOR/autophagy axis. Nat Commun. 2023 Jan 20;14(1):344. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-35977-4. PMID: 36670126; PMCID: PMC9859800.

  10. Feng J, Han X, Yuan Y, Cho CK, Janečková E, Guo T, Pareek S, Rahman MS, Zheng B, Bi J, Jing J, Zhang M, Xu J, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2022) TGF-β signaling and Creb5 cooperatively regulate Fgf18 to control pharyngeal muscle development. eLife. 2022 Dec 21;11:e80405. doi: 10.7554/eLife.80405. PMID: 36542062; PMCID: PMC9771365.

  11. Jing J, Feng J, Yuan Y, Guo T, Lei J, Pei F, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2022) Spatiotemporal single-cell regulatory atlas reveals neural crest lineage diversification and cellular function during tooth morphogenesis. Nat Commun. 2022 Aug 16;13(1):4803. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-32490-y. PMID: 35974052; PMCID: PMC9381504. 

  12. Guo T, Han X, He J, Feng J, Jing J, Janečková E, Lei J, Ho TV, Xu J, Chai Y. (2022) KDM6B interacts with TFDP1 to activate P53 signaling in regulating mouse palatogenesis. eLife. 2022 Feb 25;11:e74595. doi: 10.7554/eLife.74595. PMID: 35212626; PMCID: PMC9007587.

  13. Jing J, Feng J, Li J, Zhao H, Ho TV, He J, Yuan Y, Guo T, Du J, Urata M, Sharpe P, Chai Y. (2021) Reciprocal interaction between mesenchymal stem cells and transit amplifying cells regulates tissue homeostasis. eLife. 2021 Jan22;10:e59459. doi: 10.7554/eLife.59459. PMID: 33480845; PMCID: PMC7822593.

  14. Han X, Feng J, Guo T, Loh YE, Yuan Y, Ho TV, Cho CK, Li J, Jing J, Janeckova E, He J, Pei F, Bi J, Song B, Chai Y. (2021) Runx2-Twist1 interaction coordinates cranial neural crest guidance of soft palate myogenesis. eLife. 2021 Jan 22;10:e62387. doi: 10.7554/eLife.62387. PMID: 33482080; PMCID: PMC7826157.

  15. He J, Jing J, Feng J, Han X, Yuan Y, Guo T, Pei F, Ma Y, Cho C, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2021) Lhx6 regulates canonical Wnt signaling to control the fate of mesenchymal progenitor cells during mouse molar root patterning. PLoS Genet. 2021 Feb 17;17(2):e1009320. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009320. PMID: 33596195; PMCID: PMC7920342.

  16. Du J, Jing J, Yuan Y, Feng J, Han X, Chen S, Li X, Peng W, Xu J, Ho TV, Jiang X, Chai Y. (2021) Arid1a-Plagl1-Hh signaling is indispensable for differentiation-associated cell cycle arrest of tooth root progenitors. Cell Rep. 2021 Apr 6;35(1):108964. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108964. PMID: 33826897; PMCID:PMC8132592.

  17. Du J, Jing J, Chen S, Yuan Y, Feng J, Ho TV, Sehgal P, Xu J, Jiang X, Chai Y. (2021) Arid1a regulates cell cycle exit of transit-amplifying cells through inhibiting the Aurka-Cdk1 axis in mouse incisor. Development. 2021 Apr 15;148(8):dev198838. doi: 10.1242/dev.198838. Epub 2021 Apr 16. PMID: 33766930; PMCID: PMC8077510.

  18. Lei J, Chen S, Jing J, Guo T, Feng J, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2021) Inhibiting Hh signaling in Gli1+ osteogenic progenitors alleviates TMJOA. J Dent Res. 2022 Jun;101(6):664-674. doi: 10.1177/00220345211059079. Epub 2022 Jan 20. PMID: 35045740; PMCID: PMC9124909.

  19. Wen Q, Jing J, Han X, Feng J, Yuan Y, Ma Y, Chen S, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2020) Runx2 regulates mouse tooth root development via activation of WNT inhibitor Notum. J Bone Miner Res. 2020 Nov;35(11):2252-2264. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.4120. Epub 2020 Aug 3. PMID: 32569388; PMCID: PMC7689689.

  20. Chen S, Jing J, Yuan Y, Feng J, Han X, Wen Q, Ho TV, Lee C, Chai Y. (2020) Runx2+ Niche Cells Maintain Incisor Mesenchymal Tissue Homeostasis through IGF Signaling. Cell Rep. 2020 Aug 11;32(6):108007. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108007. PMID: 32783935; PMCID: PMC7461627.

  21. Ma Y, Jing J, Feng J, Yuan Y, Wen Q, Han X, He J, Chen S, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2020) Ror2-mediated non-canonical Wnt signaling regulates Cdc42 and cell proliferation during tooth root development. Development. 2021 Jan 21;148(2):dev196360. doi:10.1242/dev.196360. PMID: 33323370; PMCID: PMC7847279.

  22. Yuan Y, Loh YE, Han X, Feng J, Ho TV, He J, Jing J, Groff K, Wu A, Chai Y. (2020) Spatiotemporal cellular movement and fate decisions during first pharyngeal arch morphogenesis. Sci Adv. 2020 Dec 16;6(51):eabb0119. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abb0119. PMID: 33328221; PMCID: PMC7744069.

  23. Shi C, Yuan Y, Guo Y, Jing J, Ho TV, Han X, Li J, Feng J, Chai Y. (2019) BMP Signaling in Regulating Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Incisor Homeostasis. J Dent Res. 2019 Jul;98(8):904-911. doi: 10.1177/0022034519850812. Epub 2019 May 28. PubMed PMID: 31136721; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6616121.

  24. Jing J, Feng J, Li J, Han X, He J, Ho TV, Du J, Zhou X, Urata M, Chai Y. (2019) Antagonistic interaction between Ezh2 and Arid1a coordinates root patterning and development via Cdkn2a in mouse molars. eLife. 2019 Jul 1;8. pii: e46426. doi:10.7554/eLife.46426. PubMed PMID: 31259687; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6602580.

  25. Janeckova E, Feng J, Li J, Rodriguez G, Chai Y. (2019) Dynamic activation of Wnt, Fgf, and Hh signaling during soft palate development. PLoS One. 2019 Oct 15;14(10):e0223879. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223879. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31613912; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6793855.

  26. Zhang T, Wu J, Ungvijanpunya N, Jackson-Weaver O, Gou Y, Feng J, Ho TV, Shen Y, Liu J, Richard S, Jin J, Hajishengallis G, Chai Y, Xu J. (2018) Smad6 Methylation Represses NFκB Activation and Periodontal Inflammation. J Dent Res. 2018 Jul;97(7):810-819. doi: 10.1177/0022034518755688. Epub 2018 Feb 8. PubMed PMID: 29420098; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6728583.

  27. Li J, Yuan Y, He J, Feng J, Han X, Jing J, Ho TV, Xu J, Chai Y. (2018) Constitutive activation of hedgehog signaling adversely affects epithelial cell fate during palatal fusion. Dev Biol. 2018 Sep 1;441(1):191-203. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.07.003. Epub 2018 Jul 5. PubMed PMID: 29981310; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6152919.

  28. Guo Y, Yuan Y, Wu L, Ho TV, Jing J, Sugii H, Li J, Han X, Feng J, Guo C, Chai Y. (2018) BMP-IHH-mediated interplay between mesenchymal stem cells and osteoclasts supports calvarial bone homeostasis and repair. Bone Res. 2018 Oct 17;6:30. doi: 10.1038/s41413-018-0031-x. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30345151; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6193039.

  29. Tian H, Feng J, Li J, Ho TV, Yuan Y, Liu Y, Brindopke F, Figueiredo JC, Magee W 3rd, Sanchez-Lara PA, Chai Y. (2017) Intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88) is crucial for craniofacial development in mice and is a candidate gene for human cleft lip and palate. Hum Mol Genet. 2017 Mar 1;26(5):860-872. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddx002. PubMed PMID: 28069795; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6075526.

  30. Feng J, Jing J, Li J, Zhao H, Punj V, Zhang T, Xu J, Chai Y. (2017) BMP signaling orchestrates a transcriptional network to control the fate of mesenchymal stem cells in mice. Development. 2017 Jul 15;144(14):2560-2569. doi:10.1242/dev.150136. Epub 2017 Jun 2. PubMed PMID: 28576771; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC5536932.

  31. Sugii H, Grimaldi A, Li J, Parada C, Vu-Ho T, Feng J, Jing J, Yuan Y, Guo Y, Maeda H, Chai Y. (2017) Dlx5-FGF10 signaling cascade controls cranial neural crest and myoblast interaction during oropharyngeal patterning and development. Development. 2017 Nov 1;144(21):4037-4045. doi: 10.1242/dev.155176. Epub 2017 Oct 5. PubMed PMID: 28982687; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5702075.

  32. Feng J, Jing J, Sanchez-Lara PA, Bootwalla MS, Buckley J, Wu N, Yan Y, Chai Y. (2016) Generation and characterization of tamoxifen-inducible Pax9-CreER Knock-In Mice using CrispR/Cas9. Genesis. 2016 Sep;54(9):490-6. doi: 10.1002/dvg.22956. Epub 2016 Jul 26. PubMed PMID: 27381449; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5021577.

  33. Liu Y, Feng JF, Li JY, Zhao Hu, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2015) An Nfic-Hedgehog Signaling Cascade Regulates Tooth Root Development. Development. 2015 Oct 1;142(19):3374-82. doi:10.1242/dev.127068. Epub 2015 Aug 20. PubMed PMID: 26293299; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4631759.

  34. Pang YW, Feng J, Daltoe F, Fatscher R, Gentleman E, Gentleman MM, Sharpe PT. (2015) Perivascular Stem Cells at the Tip of Mouse Incisors Regulate Tissue Regeneration. J Bone Miner Res. 2016 Mar;31(3):514-23. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.2717. Epub 2015 Oct 21. PubMed PMID: 26391094.

  35. Zhao H, Feng J, Ho TV, Grimes W, Urata M, Chai Y. (2015) The suture provides a niche for mesenchymal stem cells of craniofacial bones. Nat Cell Biol. 2015 Apr;17(4):386-96. doi: 10.1038/ncb3139. Epub 2015 Mar 23. PubMed PMID: 25799059; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4380556.

  36. Li J, Feng J, Liu Y, Ho TV, Grimes W, Ho HA, Park S, Wang SL, Chai Y. (2015) BMP-SHH Signaling Network Controls Epithelial Stem Cell Fate via Regulation of Its Niche in the Developing Tooth. Dev Cell. 2015 Apr 20;33(2):125-35. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2015.02.021. Epub 2015 Apr 9. PubMed PMID: 25865348; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4406846.

  37. Zhao H, Feng J, Seidel K, Shi S, Klein O, Sharpe P, Chai Y. (2014) Secretion of shh by a neurovascular bundle niche supports mesenchymal stem cell homeostasis in the adult mouse incisor. Cell Stem Cell. 2014 Feb 6;14(2):160-73. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2013.12.013. PubMed PMID: 24506883; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC3951379.

  38. Lapthanasupkul P, Feng J, Mantesso A, Takada-Horisawa Y, Vidal M, Koseki H, Wang L, An Z, Miletich I, Sharpe PT. (2012) Ring1a/b polycomb proteins regulate the mesenchymal stem cell niche in continuously growing incisors. Dev Biol. 2012 Jul 15;367(2):140-53. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.04.029. Epub 2012 May 4. PubMed PMID: 22562112.

  39. Feng J, Mantesso A, De Bari C, Nishiyama A, Sharpe PT. (2011) Dual origin of mesenchymal stem cells contributing to organ growth and repair. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Apr 19;108(16):6503-8. Epub 2011 Apr 4. PubMed PMID: 21464310; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3081015.

  40. Rothová M, Feng J, Sharpe PT, Peterková R, Tucker AS. (2011) Contribution of mesoderm to the developing dental papilla. Int J Dev Biol. 2011;55(1):59-64. PubMed PMID: 21425080.

  41. Feng J, Mantesso A, Sharpe PT. (2010) Perivascular cells as mesenchymal stem cells. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2010 Oct;10(10):1441-51. Review. PubMed PMID: 20836622.

  • 2022 – 3rd Place – FaceBase Community Forum poster competition