Nannan Sun, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellows

Alumni

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Research Interests

​Dr. Sun’s research focuses on energy metabolism of cells, tissues and organs by detecting endogenous fluorescent signals. Endogenous fluorescence from NADH and FAD is an effective indicator of cellular metabolic change. She is investigating the functional coupling between neurons and astrocytes by quantifying the autofluorescence of these metabolites using two-photon and Digital holographic microscopy.

Selected Publications

  • ​Potential indexing of the invasiveness of breast cancer cells by their mitochondrial redox ratios
    N. Sun, H. N. Xu, Q. Luo, L. Z. Li
    Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 923,121-7, (2016)
  • Monitoring hemodynamic and metabolic alterations during severe hemorrhagic shock in rat brains 
    N. Sun, W. Luo, L. Z. Li, Q. Luo
    Academic Radiology, 21(2), 175-84, (2014)
  • Autofluorescence perspective of cancer diagnostics
    L. Z. Li, N. Sun
    Natural Biomarkers for Cellular Metabolism: Biology, Techniques, and Applications. Edited by Vladimir V. Ghukasyan and Ahmed A. Heikal, 273–298, (2014)
  • Preclinical evidence of mitochondrial NADH as an effective alarm parameter under hypoxia conditions
    H. Shi, N. Sun, A. Mayevsky, Z. Zhang, Q. Luo
    Journal of Biomedical Optics, 19(1), 17005, (2014)
  • Quality evaluation method for rat brain cryofixation based on NADH fluorescence
    N. Sun, W. Luo, A. Wang, Q. Luo
    Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 789,435-40, (2013)

Education

  • ​Ph.D., Optical Engineering, KAUST, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, 2015
  • Visiting graduate student, Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA, 2013, 2014
  • M.Sc., Optical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Hubei, P. R. China, 2010
  • B.Sc., Survey and Control Technology & Instrument, Jilin University, Jilin, P.R. China, 2009

Professional Profile

  • ​2016-present: Postdoctoral fellow, KAUST, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

KAUST Affiliations

Biological and Environmental 
Science & Engineering Division (BESE)

Research Interests Keywords

Energy metabolism Endogenous fluorescence Neuronal activities