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Our long-term research goals are to 1) investigate the molecular mechanisms of chronic inflammation in obesity-related metabolic diseases and 2) identify new dietary interventions or molecular therapeutics to suppress such chronic inflammation. We are particularly interested in the contribution of the NLRP3 inflammasome and extracellular vesicles to chronic inflammation. We also actively work on dietary vesicle-like nanoparticles and their anti-inflammatory functions in the context of obesity-related diseases.  

Jiujiu Yu's Biography 

My research focuses on molecular mechanisms regulating genome stability and their potential application in cancer therapy.

Youwei Zhang's Biography 

Our laboratory combines molecular, cellular, and electrophysiological approaches with state-of-art Expansion Microscopy and 3D electron microscopy in the cultured neuron and transgenic mouse models to analyze how neurons establish their communications through a specialized unit termed “synapse”. We are particularly interested in an interdisciplinary study about the role of extracellular polysaccharide in regulating the structure and function of synapses. Elucidating these mechanisms is important for understanding how synapses develop in health and how they dysfunction in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

Peng Zhang's Biography 

We are interested in applying multi-omic analysis (metabolomics, proteomics, and lipidomics) to understand host-microbe interactions and use this knowledge to develop immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Our study involves system immunology, computational biology, oncology, and microbiology.

We are focusing on seeking in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) self-renewal, the interactions of HSPCs and bone marrow microenvironment, and how these become dysregulated to cause leukemia/lymphoma. Specifically, we are focusing on 1) How HSF1 specifically regulates AML stem cells; and 2) how B-myeloid conversion is regulated in a pathological context.

Chen Zhao's Biography

I research the genes and molecular pathways involved in mouse models of human deafness, including Otitis Media and Usher syndrome.

My labs studies Notch signaling in stress hematopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cell niche, and leukemia microenvironment. Additional projects include pathogenesis of inflammation-associated colorectal cancer mouse models and targeting pancreatic cancer metabolic vulnerability and drug resistance.

Lan Zhou's Biography 

We are interested in utilizing an advancing imaging technique, cryo-electron tomography, to visualize antimicrobial protein complexes directly in their native cellular context. We also employ cryo-EM single particle analysis and other biophysical techniques to study the structure and mechanism of antimicrobial macromolecular complexes. We aim to provide essential structural information to help develop strategies to combat infectious diseases.

My lab studies pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in age-related neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease with a focus on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. A variety of experimental systems are used, including primary and transformed neuronal cells and multiple mouse models representing these disorders as well as brain tissues from human patients.

Xiongwei Zhu's Biography