Yijun is a research fellow in the Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Theme at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS).

He has completed his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with Monash University, and was awarded Pharmacy Gold Medal (2012) for his academic merits. He later completed his PhD ‘The Role of Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins (FABPs) in the Transport of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Cognition’ under the supervision of Associate Professor Joseph Nicolazzo, Professor Christopher Porter and Professor Martin Scanlon. His PhD studies pioneered the role of FABPs at the blood-brain barrier, and resulted in five original research papers and one invited review as first author. His publications have achieved the American Chemical Society Editors’ Choice Award, and Featured Article chosen by Editor. His research has been cited >250 times, which is admirable for a researcher at his stage. The outcomes of his work resulted in a brand-new research activity within MIPS that has led to the development of two Honours projects and two PhD projects, for which he is part of the supervisory team.

In 2018, Dr Pan was awarded the prestigious Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) fellowship to undertake a two-year research program with at Tohoku University, Japan. His progression at Tohoku University is evidenced by winning the 2019 Excellent Young Researcher Award (Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University). His growing national and international research reputation is evidenced by invited seminar presentations to RMIT University (2017) and National University of Singapore (2019).

Yijun is currently interested in investigating the roles of FABPs in immunometabolism, and drug delivery in people with neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease and Motor Neuron Diseases). His research is currently supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences - Grants for Promoting International Collaboration ($250K), Dementia Australia Project Grant ($75k), and FightMND Impact Grant ($250K).

1. The role of FABPs in immunometabolism of astrocytes and microglia and their involvement in neurodegenerative diseases
2. Precise medication use in people with Alzheimer’s disease
3. Improving drug delivery in people with motor neuron disease