Faculty

Extrinsic regulation of hematopoiesis

The laboratory’s research emphasis is to study novel agents that regulate hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and survival capacity under normal and stressed conditions and to study how these agents can be used to improve both mouse and human donor hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell engraftment following transplantation in animal models.

Examine how altered microbiota in obesity modifies innate T cell function and impacts obesity-related diseases

Our long-term research interests include understanding immunological responses to the invasion of pathogens and tumors, and how modern lifestyle alters the immune system. Specifically, we focus on studying how altered microbiota in obesity modifies the innate T cell function and how it impacts obesity-related diseases.

B cell development and humoral memory responses

Our research is to understand the regulation of B cells development and their responses to viral infection and vaccination. We are using genetic animal models to interrogate the role of signaling and metabolism reprogramming in the generation and maintenance of long-lived memory B cells and plasma cells. 

Bioactive cytokines/growth factor control of HSC proliferation & migration

Our research focuses on hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal, differentiation and regeneration. We study how these processes are normally regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms or altered under stress such as aging and radiation exposure.   

Finding new ways of enhancing the safety of HSCT and cellular therapies by improving the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of complications from HSCT and cellular therapies. 

How host-pathogen interaction shape the immune response

The Richer laboratory is interested in understanding the regulation of T cell function in health and disease using viral models of infection.

My research focuses on understanding mechanisms/factors that regulate stem cell homeostasis and deciphering specific changes in stem cells and their niches under stress/pathologic conditions such as myeloablation, aging, and diabetes. I am particularly interested in exploring the roles of neuronal signals in hematopoietic stem cell niche regulation.

Immunology of chronic viral infections, T cell exhaustion, Immunotherapy

The Snell laboratory studies the molecular and cellular regulation of antiviral T cell responses during chronic viral infection. We are interested in how the immunosuppressive environment generated by a chronic viral infection dysregulates or skews T cell responses, and how these can be restored by immunotherapy to purge infection.

Gene Editing in Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Monogenic Diseases, Multiple Myeloma

My research interest is to utilize gene editing tools to understand disease mechanisms and develop therapeutic approaches for blood disorders. The current lab research focus are (1) developing the CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapy for Fanconi Anemia and (2) targeting N-link glycosylation for treatment of multiple myeloma.

Metabolic regulation of hematopoiesis

The Zhang lab combines biochemical, molecular/cellular and mouse genetic approaches to elucidate the role of asparagine metabolism in (1) normal HSC function during hematopoietic reconstitution and (2) B cell activation/differentiation in response to antigen stimulation.