Zhu Research Group

Our group (the Molecular and Cellular Immunoregulation Section) investigates the induction and functions of transcription factor complexes during the development, lineage commitment, and maintenance of immune cells, particularly CD4 T helper (Th) cell and innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets in steady state or under disease conditions including infection and inflammation.

Photo of Zhu Research Group

From left to right: Danping, Xiaoliang, Xi, Dingkang, Jeff, Difeng, Rosalene, Ayanna, and Hyunwoo (Takeshi not pictured)

Credit: NIAID

Jinfang (Jeff) Zhu, Ph.D.

Chief, Molecular and Cellular Immunoregulation Section

Education:

Ph.D., Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Dr. Zhu received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from the department of biology, NanKai University, Tianjin, China, and his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry (now known as Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology), Chinese Academy of Sciences. He joined the Laboratory of Immunology (LI) first as a visiting fellow and then as a staff scientist studying CD4 T-cell differentiation. He was appointed as an Earl Stadtman investigator in the LI in 2011 and received tenure in 2017.

Learn more about Jinfang (Jeff) Zhu, Ph.D.

Jinfang (Jeff) Zhu, Ph.D.

Rosalene M. Carey, B.S.

Biologist

Education:

B.S., Biology, Bowie State University 

I have responsibilities of a lab manager.

Learn more about Rosalene M. Carey, B.S.

Xi Chen, M.D.

Biologist

Education:

M.D., Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Languages Spoken: Chinese

I mastered the techniques of RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq library construction, in vitro T helper cell polarization, BAC recombineering and other cloning techniques etc.

Learn more about Xi Chen, M.D.

Hyunwoo Chung, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Seoul National University, Republic of Korea 
M.Sc., Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
B.Sc., Seoul National University, Republic of Korea

Languages Spoken: Korean

During his doctoral course, Hyunwoo (Woo) Chung studied pancreatic islet biology, diabetes mellitus, and the immune responses that follow syngeneic, allogeneic, and xenogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation.  

After getting his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and joining Dr. Zhu’s lab in NIAID, Woo has been focusing on innate lymphoid cell biology with respect to adaptive lymphocytes using scRNA...

Learn more about Hyunwoo Chung, Ph.D.

Difeng Fang, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Languages Spoken: Chinese

I have rich experience in studying CD4 T helper (Th) cell differentiation and innate lymphoid cell (ILC) development, and the induction fand functions of Th cell and ILC lineage-specific master transcription factors. 

Learn more about Difeng Fang, Ph.D.

Ayanna Healy, B.A.

PostBac

Education:

B.A., Randolph-Macon College 

Takeshi Kawabe, M.D., Ph.D.

Guest Researcher

Education:

M.D., Ph.D., Tohoku University, Japan

Languages Spoken: Japanese

Dr. Kawabe is studying CD4 T cell homeostasis. In particular, he is interested in the mechanisms governing generation, maintenance, differentiation, and immunological function of “memory-phenotype” CD4 T cells.

Learn more about Takeshi Kawabe, M.D., Ph.D.

Dingkang Peng, MBBS

Special Volunteer

Education:

MBBS, Central South University, China 

Languages Spoken: Chinese

I mainly focus on studying a mutant of transcription factor FOXP3 found in human patients which results in uncontrolled Th2 responses. By creating a mouse model carrying this Foxp3 knock-in mutation, I am exploring the mechanisms of immune dysregulation caused by this mutation.

Learn more about Dingkang Peng, MBBS

Danping Wei, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Developmental Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
M.S., Cell Biology, Kunming University of Science and Technology
B.S., Biological Technology, Hainan University

Languages Spoken: Chinese

Dr. Wei focuses on understanding the role of important transcription factors, including GATA3 and its binding partners, in regulating the development and functions of type 2 innate lymphoid cells and T helper cells.

Learn more about Danping Wei, Ph.D.

Xiaoliang Zhu, Ph.D.

Postdoc

Education:

Ph.D., Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science

Languages Spoken: Chinese

I am investigating adaptive immune responses focusing on Tfh cell-mediated humoral responses; I am also studying the role of ILC2s and ILC3s in host protection and inflammation.

Learn more about Xiaoliang Zhu, Ph.D.

Former Research Group Members

Ryojo Yagi (Associate Professor, Chiba University, Japan) 

Suveena Sharma (NIAID) 

Fang Yu (Assistant Professor, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar) 

Chao Zhong (Professor, Peking University, China) 

Rama Gurram (NHLBI) 

Matthew Butcher (FDA) 

Mingzhu Zheng (Professor, Southeast University, China) 

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