Shan Meltzer is a neuroscientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Meltzer's research focuses on the developmental principles of sensory neurons and the discovery of signaling pathways. ^[1] By using an integrative approach that combines mouse genetics, anatomical studies, physiological analysis, and behavioral research, Meltzer's work explores the key molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying somatosensory circuit assembly. These efforts have significant potential in understanding and treating nerve injuries, chronic pain, and somatosensory dysfunctions linked to various diseases.

Shan Meltzer pursued her undergraduate studies at Peking University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences and Philosophy. Following her undergraduate education, she continued her academic journey at Columbia University for one year before transferring to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 2012. At UCSF, she earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience under the mentorship of Yuh Nung Jan.

During her graduate studies, Meltzer focused on the development and function of Drosophila sensory neurons. Her research unveiled the critical role of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) synthesis pathways in sensory neurons, which support dendrite growth and function. One of her significant findings, published in Cell Reports (2017), demonstrated how phospholipid homeostasis regulates dendrite morphogenesis in sensory neurons.^[2]

Meltzer also authored papers investigating the influence of dendrite-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion. Her research revealed that mutations in the semaphorin ligand sema-2b disrupt dendrite-ECM adhesion, leading to excessive dendrite self-crossing and a failure to confine dendrites to a two-dimensional plane. This work, published in Neuron (2016), significantly advanced the understanding of dendrite self-avoidance mechanisms.^[3]

Meltzer completed her graduate studies in 2017, continuing research in the field of sensory neuroscience.

After completing her graduate studies, Meltzer transitioned to postdoctoral work in the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, in the lab of David Ginty. During this time, she continued her research in the field of sensory neuroscience, authoring multiple research articles.

Meltzer is a recipient of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna H. Grey Fellowship. Through this fellowship, her research aims to uncover how sensory neurons form the exquisite structures and connections that govern their functions.^[4]

Some of her postdoctoral work focused on the cellular and molecular basis of somatosensory neuron development, particularly the role of dorsal root ganglia somatosensory neurons in conveying sensory information to the central nervous system (Meltzer et al., 2021).^[5]

In another published study, Meltzer investigated the roles of axon-glial interactions and Netrin-G1 signaling in the formation of low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) in sensory end organs. Experimental findings, including the ablation of Ntng1 (Netrin-G1) and Lrrc4c (NGL-1), demonstrated that disrupting these signaling pathways can impair the formation of lanceolate complexes, a key component of hair follicle-associated LTMRs and other mechanoreceptor end organs (Meltzer et al., 2022).^[6]

Meltzer’s research contributes to the understanding of sensory neuron development and the molecular mechanisms underlying sensory processing. Her work continues to advance knowledge in the field of sensory neuroscience and may inform future studies in this area. After completing the postdoctoral phase of her fellowship, Meltzer transitioned to a faculty position as an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where she continues her research on somatosensory circuit development.^[7]

• 2023 MIT Biology Catalyst Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology^[8]
• 2023 Intersections Science Fellows Symposium Fellows^[9]
• 2019 Harvard Brain Science Initiative Young Scientist Travel Award^[10]
• 2016 Chancellor’s Diversity Award for the Advancement of Women, UCSF^[11]

• Meltzer, S., Comeau, K., Chirila, A., Osei-Asante, E., DeLisle, M., Zhang, Q., Kalish, B.T., Tasnim, A., Huey, E., Fuller, L.C., Flaherty, E.K., Lefebvre, J.L., Maniatis, T., Garrett, A.M., Weiner, J.A., and Ginty, D.D. (2023). γ-Protocadherins Control Synapse Formation and Peripheral Branching of Touch Sensory Neurons. Neuron 111, 1-19. https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(23)00208-8
• Meltzer, S., Boulanger, K. C., Osei-Asante, E., Handler, A., Zhang, Q., Sano, C., Itohara, S., and Ginty, D. D. (2022). A role for axon–glial interactions and Netrin-G1 signaling in the formation of low-threshold mechanoreceptor end organs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119(43), e2210421119. https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2210421119
• Meltzer, S., Santiago, C., Sharma, N., and Ginty, D.D. (2021). The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Somatosensory Neuron Development. Neuron 109, 1–22. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0896-6273(21)00658-9
• Meltzer, S., Bagley, J.A., Perez, G.L., O’Brien, C.E., DeVault, L., Guo, Y., Jan, L.Y., and Jan, Y.N. (2017). Phospholipid Homeostasis Regulates Dendrite Morphogenesis in Drosophila Sensory Neurons. Cell Reports 21, 859–866. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2211-1247(17)31409-2
• Meltzer, S., Yadav, S., Lee, J., Soba, P., Younger, S.H., Jin, P., Zhang, W., Parrish, J., Jan, L.Y., and Jan, Y.N. (2016). Epidermis-Derived Semaphorin Promotes Dendrite Self-Avoidance by Regulating Dendrite-Substrate Adhesion in Drosophila Sensory Neurons. Neuron 89, 741–755. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0896-6273(16)00045-3