Hanxin Lin

Margaret Lilley

Dr. Hanxin Lin is a clinical molecular geneticist in the Molecular Genetics Laboratory of Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL). He is certified by the Canadian College of Medical Geneticist (CCMG) and American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). He completed a Bachelor, Master and Ph.D degree in Plant Protection and Plant Pathology at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in 1992, 1995, and 1999, respectively. He also got a Ph.D degree specialized in the field of Medical Sciences – Infection & Immunity from McMaster University in 2010. He finished the CCMG molecular fellowship training in McMaster University in 2015. During 2015-2022, he worked as a clinical molecular geneticist at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine of Western University.  He has extensive experiences in molecular diagnostics of constitutional genetic disorders and somatic oncology (including solid tumors and hematologic malignancies). 

Dr. Lin’s research interests include: 1) development and clinical implementation of new molecular diagnostics assays; and 2) characterization of variants of unknown significance (VUS) using functional assays, e.g. RNA analysis.

  1. Kerkhof J, Rastin C, Schenkel, L, Lin H, Sadikovic B. Clinical validation of a single NGS targeted panel pipeline using the KAPA HyperChoice system for detection of germline, somatic and mitochondrial sequence and copy number variants. Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics, 2023 Jul-Dec; 23(9):827-841. Doi:1080/14737159.2023.2245747.
  2. Bhai P, Turowec J, Santos S, Kerkhof J, Pickard L, Foroutan A, Breadner D, Cecchini M, Levy M, Stuart A, Welch S, Howlett C, Lin H*, Sadikovic B*. Molecular profiling of solid tumors by next generation sequencing: An experience from a clinical laboratory. Frontier in Oncology, 2023 Jul 6:13:1208244. Doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1208244 (*co-corresponding author).
  3. Liu Y, Chen D, Wang Y, Li X, Qiu Y, Zheng M, Song Y, Li G, Song C, Liu T, Zhang Y, Guo JT, Lin H*, Zhao X. Characterization of CCoV-HuPn-2018 spike protein-mediated viral entry. Journal of Virology, 2023 Sep 28,97(9):e0060123. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.00601-23 (*co-corresponding author).
  4. Chin-Yee B, Bhai P, Cheong I, Matyashin M, Hsia C, Kawata E, Ho J, Lin H, Chin-Yee I, Kadour M, Sadikovic B, Lazo-Langner A. A rational approach to JAK2 mutation testing in patients with elevated hemoglobin: results from the JAK2 PredictiOn cohorT (JAKPOT) study. J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Nov 30. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07963-x.
  5. Bhai P, Chin-Yee B, Pope V, Cheong I, Matyashin M, Hsia C, Levy MA, Foroutan, Stuart A, Hsia CC, Lin H, Sadikovic B, Chin-Yee I. Mutational landscape of patients referred for elevated hemoglobin level. Current Oncology, 2022 Sep 30;29(10):7209-7217. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29100568.
  6. Chin-Yee B, Matyashin M, Cheong I, Bhai P, Lazo-Langner A, Almanaseer A, Kawata E, Levy MA, Stuart A, Lin H, Chin-Yee I, Sadikovic B, Hsia C. Secondary causes of elevated hemoglobin in patients undergoing molecular testing for suspected polycythemia vera in southwestern Ontario: a chart review. CMAJ Open, 2022 Nov 8;10(4):E988-E992. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20210322.
  7. Sooshtari P, Feng B, Biswas S, Levy M, Lin H, Su Z, Chakrabarti S. ANRIL Regulates Multiple Molecules of Pathogenetic Significance in Diabetic Nephropathy. PLoS One, 2022 Aug 19;17(8):e0270287. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270287.
  8. Chin-Yee B, Cheong I, Matyashin M, Lazo-Langner A, Chin-Yee I, Bhayana V, Bhai P, Lin H, Sadikovic B, Hsia C. Serum erythropoietin levels in 696 patients investigated for erythrocytosis with JAK2 mutation analysis. American Journal of Haematology, 2022, Apr;97(4):E150-E153.doi: 10.1002/ajh.26471.
  9. Bhai P, Hsia C, Schenkel L, Hedley B, Levy MA, Kerkhof J, Santos S, Stuart A, Lin H, Broadbent R, Nan S, Yang P, Xenocostas A, Chin-Yee I, Sadikovic B. Clinical utility of implementing a frontline NGS-based DNA and RNA fusion panel test for patients with suspected myeloid malignancies. Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy, 2022 Apr 5. doi: 1007/s40291-022-00581-7.
  10. Kawata E, Lazo-Langner A, Xenocostas A, Hsia CC, Howson-Jan K, Deotare U, Saini L, Yang P, Broadbent R, Levy M, Howlett C, Stuart A, Kerkhof J, Santos S, Lin H, Sadikovic B, Chin-Yee I. Reducing Cytogenetic Testing in the Era of Next Generation Sequencing: Are We Choosing Wisely? International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, 2021 Oct 29.doi: 10.1111/ijlh.13747.
  11. Turashvili G, McLachlin CM, Lin H, Gharbharan R, Colgan T. Lynch Syndrome Screening of Women with Endometrial Cancer: Feasibility and Outcomes in a Community Program. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2021 Oct 14:S1701-2163(21)00753-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2021.08.014.
  12. Bhai P, Levy MA, Rooney K, Carere DA, Reilly J, Kerkhof J, Volodarsky M, Stuart A, Kadour M, Panabaker K, Schenkel LC, Lin H, Ainsworth P, Sadikovic B. Analysis of sequence and copy number variants in Canadian patient cohort with familial cancer syndromes using a unique next generation sequencing based approach. Frontiers in Genetics, 2021 Jul 13;12:698595. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.698595. eCollection 2021.
  13. Maani N, Panabaker K, McCuaig JM, Buckley K, Semotiuk K, Farncombe KM, Ainsworth P, Panchal S, Sadikovic B, Armel SR, Lin H*, Kim RH*. Incidental Findings from Cancer Next Generation Sequencing Panels. NPJ Genomic Medicine, 2021 Jul 19;6(1):63. doi: 10.1038/s41525-021-00224-6.PMID: 34282142(Co-corresponding author).
  14. Aref-Eshghi E, Kerkhof J, Carere DA, Volodarsky M, Bhai P, Colaiacovo S, Saleh M, Caudle M, Karp N, Prasad C, Balci T,Lin H, Campbell C, Siu VM, Sadikovic B. Clinical and technical assessment of MedExome vs. NGS panels in patients with suspected genetic disorders in Southwestern Ontario. J Hum Genet. 2021 May;66(5):451-464. doi: 10.1038/s10038-020-00860-3. Epub 2020 Oct 23.
  15. Cheng YR, Li X, Zhao X, Lin H.*. Cell entry of animal coronaviruses. Viruses, 2021, 13(10): 1977. Doi: 10.3390/v.13101977 (*Co-corresponding author).
  16. Zhao X*, Chen D, Szabla, R, Zhang M, Li GL, Du PC, Zhang SL, Li XL, Song C, Guo JT, Junop M, Zeng H, Lin HX*. Broad and differential animal ACE2 receptor usage by SARS-CoV-2. Journal of Virology, 2020, 94 (18): e00940-20 (* co-corresponding author).
  17. Zhao X, Zhang SL, Chen D, Zheng M, Li XL, Li GL, Lin HX, Chang JH, Zeng H, Guo JT. Ly6E restricts the entry of human coronaviruses, including the currently pandemic SARS-CoV-2. Journal of Virology, 2020, 94 (18): e00562-20.
  18. Zhang M, Zhao X*, Zhang SL, Chen D, Du PC, Li XL, Jiang D, Guo JT, Zeng H*, Lin HX*. Bat SARS-Like WIV1 coronavirus uses multiple animal ACE2 as receptor and bypass IFITM3-mediated entry restriction with TMPRSS2. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 2020, 9(1): 1567-1579 (* co-corresponding author).
  19. Kawata E, Lazo-Langner A, Xenocostas A, Hsia CC, Howson-Jan K, Deotare U, Saini L, Yang P, Broadbent R, Levy M, Howlett C, Stuart A, Kerkhof J, Santos S, Lin H, Sadikovic B, Chin-Yee I. Clinical value of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) compared to cytogenetics in patients with suspected myelodysplastic syndrome. British Journal of Hematology, 2021 Feb;192(4):729-736. doi: 10.1111/bjh.16891. Epub 2020 Jun 25.
  20. Aref-Eshghi E, McGee J, Pedro VP, Kerkhof J, Stuart A, Ainsworth P, Lin H, Volodarsky M, McLachlin, CM, Sadikovic B. Genetic and epigenetic profiling of BRCA1/2 in ovarian tumors reveals additive diagnostic yield and evidence of a genomic BRCA1/2 DNA methylation signature. J Hum Genet.2021 Apr;58(4):284-288. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2019-106641. Epub 2020 May 6.
  21. Volodarsky M, Kerkhof J, Stuart A, Levy M, Brady LI, Tarnopolsky M, Lin H, Ainsworth P, Sadikovic B. Comprehensive genetic sequence and copy number analysis for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in a Canadian cohort of 2517 patients. J Med Genet.2021 Apr;58(4):284-288. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2019-106641. Epub 2020 May 6.
  22. Aref-Eshghi E, Kerkhof J, Pedro VP; Groupe DI France, Barat-Houari M, Ruiz-Pallares N, Andrau JC, Lacombe D, Van-Gils J, Fergelot P, Dubourg C, Cormier-Daire V, Rondeau S, Lecoquierre F, Saugier-Veber P, Nicolas G, Lesca G, Chatron N, Sanlaville D, Vitobello A, Faivre L, Thauvin-Robinet C, Laumonnier F, Raynaud M, Alders M, Mannens M, Henneman P, Hennekam RC, Velasco G, Francastel C, Ulveling D, Ciolfi A, Pizzi S, Tartaglia M, Heide S, Héron D, Mignot C, Keren B, Whalen S, Afenjar A, Bienvenu T, Campeau PM, Rousseau J, Levy MA, Brick L, Kozenko M, Balci TB, Siu VM, Stuart A, Kadour M, Masters J, Takano K, Kleefstra T, de Leeuw N, Field M, Shaw M, Gecz J, Ainsworth PJ, Lin H, Rodenhiser DI, Friez MJ, Tedder M, Lee JA, DuPont BR, Stevenson RE, Skinner SA, Schwartz CE, Genevieve D, Sadikovic B. Evaluation of DNA methylation episignatures for diagnosis and phenotype correlations in 42 Mendelian neurodevelopmental disorders. Am J Hum Genet. 2020, Mar 5;106(3):356-370. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.01.019.
  23. Chen D, Hou Z, Jiang D, Zheng M, Li G, Zhang Y, Lin HX, Chang JH, Zeng H, Guo JT, Zhao X. GILT restricts the cellular entry mediated by the envelope glycoproteins of SARS-CoV, Ebola virus and Lassa fever virus. Emerging Microbes & Infections, 2019;8(1):1511-1523.
  24. Levy MA, Santos S, Kerkhof J, Stuart A, Aref-Eshghi E, Guo F, Hedley B, Wong H, Rauh M, Feilotter H, Berardi P, Semenuk L, Yang P, Knoll J, Ainsworth P, Meg McLachlin C, Chin-Yee I, Kovacs M, Deotare U, Lazo-Langner A, Hsia C, Keeney M, Xenocostas A, Howlett C, Lin H, Sadikovic B. Implementation of an NGS-based sequencing and gene fusion panel for clinical screening of patients with suspected hematologic malignancies. Eur J Haematol. 2019, 103:178-189.
  25. Aref-Eshghi E, Bourque DK, Kerkhof J, Carere DA, Ainsworth P, Sadikovic B*, Armour CM*, Lin H*. Genome-wide DNA methylation and RNA analyses enable reclassification of two variants of uncertain significance in a patient with clinical Kabuki syndrome. Human Mutation, 2019, 40:1684-1689 (*co-corresponding author).
  26. Aref-Eshghi E, Bend EG, Colaiacovo S, Caudle M, Chakrabarti R, Napier M, Brick L, Brady L, Carere DA, Levy MA, Kerkhof J, Stuart A, Saleh M, Beaudet AL, Li C, Kozenko M, Karp N, Prasad C, Siu VM, Tarnopolsky MA, Ainsworth PJ, Lin H, Rodenhiser DI, Krantz ID, Deardorff MA, Schwartz CE, Sadikovic B. Diagnostic Utility of Genome-wide DNA Methylation Testing in Genetically Unsolved Individuals with Suspected Hereditary Conditions. Am J Hum Genet. 2019, 104 (4):685-700.
  27. Aref-Eshghi E, Bend EG, Hood RL, Schenkel LC, Carere DA, Chakrabarti R, Nagamani SCS, Cheung SW, Campeau PM, Prasad C, Siu VM, Brady L, Tarnopolsky MA, Callen DJ, Innes AM, White SM, Meschino WS, Shuen AY, Paré G, Bulman DE, Ainsworth PJ, Lin H, Rodenhiser DI, Hennekam RC, Boycott KM, Schwartz CE, Sadikovic B. BAFopathies’ DNA methylation epi-signatures demonstrate diagnostic utility and functional continuum of Coffin-Siris and Nicolaides-Baraitser syndromes. Nature Communication, 2018 Nov 20;9(1):4885.
  28. Zhao X, Sehgal M, Hou ZF, Cheng JJ, Shu SN, Wu S, Guo F, Le Marchand SJ, Lin HX, Chang J, and Guo Identification of residues controlling restriction versus enhancing activities of IFITM proteins on the entry of human coronaviruses. Journal of Virology, 2018, Feb 26;92(6). doi: 10.1128/JVI.01535-17.
  29. Aref-Eshghi E, Schenkel LC, Ainsworth P, Lin H, Rodenhiser DI, Cutz JC, Sadikovic B. Genomic DNA Methylation-Derived Algorithm Enables Accurate Detection of Malignant Prostate Tissues. Front Oncol. 2018 Apr 23;8:100.doi: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00100.
  30. Schenkel L, Aref-Eshghi E, Skinner C, Ainsworth P, Lin H, Pare G, Rodenhiser D, Schwartz C, Sadikovic B. Peripheral Blood Epi-Signature of Claes-Jensen Syndrome Enables Sensitive and Specific Identification of Patients and Healthy Carriers with Pathogenic Mutations in KDM5C. Clinical Epigenetics, 2018 Feb 14;10:21. doi: 10.1186/s13148-018-0453-8. eCollection 2018.
  31. Aref-Eshghi E, Rodenhiser DI, Schenkel LC, Lin H, Skinner C, Ainsworth P, Paré G, Hood RL, Bulman DE, Kernohan KD; Care4Rare Canada Consortium, Boycott KM, Campeau PM, Schwartz C, Sadikovic B. Genomic DNA methylation signatures enable concurrent diagnosis and clinical genetic variant classification in neurodevelopmental syndromes. Am J Hum Genet, 2018, 102:156-174.
  32. Aref-Eshghi E, Schenkel L, Lin H, Skinner C, Ainsworth P, Paré G, Rodenhiser D, Schwartz C, Sadikovic B. The defining DNA methylation signature of Kabuki Syndrome enables functional assessment of genetic variants of unknown clinical significance. Epigenetics, 2017; 12:923-933.
  33. Aref-Eshghi E, Schenkel L, Lin H, Skinner C, Ainsworth P, Paré G, Rodenhiser D, Schwartz C, Sadikovic B. Clinical Validation of a Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Assay for Molecular Diagnosis of Imprinting Disorders. J Mol Diagn. 2017, 19: 848-856.
  34. Kerkhof J, Schenkel L, Reilly J, McRobbie S, Aref-Eshghi E, Stuart A, Rupar A, Adams P, Hegele RA, Lin H, Rodenhiser D, Knoll J, Ainsworth P, Sadikovic B. Clinical Validation of Structural Variant Detection from Targeted Next Generation Sequencing Panels. J. Mol Diag, 2017, 19: 905-920.
  35. Lin HX, Sjaarda J, Dyck J, Stringer R, Carter R, Ainsworth P, Leber B, Pare G, Sadikovic B. Gender and BCR-ABL transcript type are correlated with molecular response to imatinib treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. European Journal of Haematology, 2016, 96:360-366.
  36. Zhao X, Guo F, Comunale MA, Mehta A, Sehgal M, Jain P, Cuconati A, Lin HX, Block T, Chang J, and Guo Inhibition of ER glucosidases impairs SARS-CoV and HCoV-NL63 spike protein-mediated entry by altering the glycan processing of ACE2. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2015, 59: 206-216.
  37. Habib E, Linher-Melville K, Lin HX, and Singh G. Expression of xCT and activity of system xc− are regulated by NRF2 in human breast cancer cells in response to oxidative stress. Redox Biology, 2015, 5: 33-42.
  38. Fazzari J*, Lin HX*, Murphy C, Ungard R and Singh G. Inhibitors of glutamate release from breast cancer cells; new targets for cancer-induced bone-pain. Scientific Report, 2015, 11: 8380 (*contributed equally, PMID 25670024).
  39. Lin HX, Feng Y, Tu X, Zhao X, Hsieh CH, Griffin L, Junop M and Zhang C. Characterization of the spike protein of human coronavirus NL63 in receptor binding and pseudotype virus entry. Virus Research, 2011, 160: 283-293.
  40. Wei TY, Yang JG, Liao FL, Gao FL, Lu LM, Zhang XT, Li F, Wu ZJ, Lin QY, Xie LH* and Lin HX*. Genetic diversity and population structure of Rice stripe virus in China. Journal of General Virology, 2009, 90 (4): 1025-1034 (corresponding author).
  41. Lin HX, Feng Y, Wong G, Wang L, Li B, Zhao X, Li Y, Smaill F and Zhang C. Identification of residues in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of human coronavirus NL63 that are critical for the RBD-ACE2 receptor interaction. Journal of General Virology, 2008, 89 (4): 1015-1024.
  42. Lin HX*, Xu W* and White, KA. A Multi-component RNA-based Control System Regulates Subgenomic mRNA Transcription in a Tombusvirus. Journal of Virology, 2007, 81(5): 2429-2439 (* contributed equally).
  43. Monkewich S, Lin HX, Fabian MC, Xu W, Ray D, Na H, Nagy P and White, KA. p92 polymerase coding region contains an internal RNA structure required at an early step in Tombusvirus genome replication. Journal of Virology, 2005, 79 (8): 4848-4858.
  44. Lin HX and White, KA. A complex network of RNA-RNA interactions controls subgenomic mRNA transcription in a Tombusvirus. EMBO J, 2004, 23(16):3365-3374.
  45. Lin HX, Rubio L, Smythe AB and Falk BW. Molecular population genetics of Cucumber mosaic virus in California: evidence for founder effects and reassortment. Journal of Virology, 2004, 78: 6666-6675.
  46. Lin HX, Rubio L, Smythe AB, Jiminez M and Falk BW. Genetic diversity and biological variation among California isolates of Cucumber mosaic virus. Journal of General Virology, 2003, 84: 249-258.
  47. Rubio L, Abou-Jawdah Y, Lin HX and Falk BW. Geographically distinct isolates of the crinivirus cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus show very low genetic diversity in the coat protein gene. Journal of General Virology, 2001, 82: 929-933.