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.
From left to right: Difeng, Rama, Matthew, Jeff, Dan, Rosalene, Mingzhu, Qiao, and Xi.
From left to right: Difeng, Rama, Matthew, Jeff, Dan, Rosalene, Mingzhu, Qiao, and Xi.
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.
Rosalene M. Carey, B.S.
Biologist
Education:
B.S., Biology, Bowie State University
I have responsibilities of a lab manager.
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.
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
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.
Ayanna Healy, B.A.
PostBac
Education:
B.A., Randolph-Macon College
Takeshi Kawabe, M.D., Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
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.
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.
Danping Wei, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
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.
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.
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)