Xia Lab
About Dr. Xia
Dr. Xia earned his Ph.D. in Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences (now Cancer & Cell Biology) from Baylor College of Medicine in 2017. Following a brief postdoctoral fellowship at BCM, he was awarded a prestigious K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, which supported the launch of his independent research program at Creighton University in August 2022. In 2025, he relocated his laboratory to the Texas A&M Institute of Biosciences and Technology (TAMU-IBT).
The Xia Lab
DNA Damageome & Genome Instability
The lab investigates how endogenous processes and environmental exposures induce DNA damage and promote genome instability. In a 2019 Cell publication, Dr. Xia and colleagues introduced the concept of DNA “damageome” genes, laying the foundation for systematic discovery in this area. Current efforts focus on expanding the damageome network in the context of lung cancer and exploring how DNA damageome pathways interact with environmental factors.
Single-Cell Toxicogenomics
Using single-cell genomics, the Xia Lab maps how toxicants—such as arsenic—intensify toxicity in distinct genetic backgrounds. Their findings demonstrate that even low-dose exposures can drive significant genotoxicity, with implications for cancer development and other diseases.
Surgical Cancer Genomics: Soft Tissue Sarcoma & Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Through close collaboration with surgical partners, the lab has established a robust collection of fresh sarcoma specimens. By profiling tumors across spatial and temporal dimensions, they examine tumor heterogeneity, evolution, and microenvironmental interactions to identify clinically actionable targets. In addition, their research has uncovered unique sex chromosome alterations in esophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett’s esophagus through single-cell DNA copy number sequencing.
Lung Cancer Genomics & Genetic Epidemiology
The Xia Lab integrates tumor genomics with population-level datasets to better understand susceptibility, disease progression, and outcomes in lung cancer. The group is an active participant in the Genetic Epidemiology of Lung Cancer Consortium, advancing large-scale discovery and validation efforts.
Jun Xia, PhD
Room 720E/F, Lab 721
Houston, TX 77030