RESEARCH INTERESTS
Neutrophils are the most abundant population of human leukocytes (~60%) and play critical roles in infections and inflammation. Circulating neutrophils are recruited to inflamed or infected tissue. The recruitment cascade is initiated by selectin-mediated rolling and chemokine-triggered integrin-dependent arrest (firm adhesion) of neutrophils on the vascular endothelium under flow. Thus, rolling and arrest are two major processes to target for fighting against inflammatory diseases (decrease rolling and arrest) and infections (increase rolling and arrest).
Our lab's long-term research interests involve the development of a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of integrin activation and leukocyte recruitment and how they contribute to human disease, especially inflammation in cardiovascular diseases, which I examine using advanced microscopy, including super-resolution single molecular microscopy, intravital microscopy, and quantitative dynamic footprinting microscopy.
FUDNIGN SUPPORTS
PROJECTS
1. Molecular mechanism and clinical relevance of the auto-inhibitory in-cis interaction of integrin and their ligands;
2019 - 2024
R01 Research Project Grant (NIH)
Molecular mechanism and preclinical translation of beta2 integrin auto-inhibition on neutrophil arrest and inflammation
2. Identifying new molecules involved in the pathway of integrin activation and clustering;
3. Pharmacology test of drugs targeting integrins in vitro and in disease models (myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury)
4. High-throughput screening of drugs inhibiting integrin activation and inflammation.
2018-2019
Career Development Award (American Heart Association)
Impact of beta2 integrin auto-inhibition on neutrophil arrest and inflammation
2016- 2018
WSA Winter 2016 Postdoctoral Fellowship (American Heart Association, U.S.A.)
Molecular control of beta2 integrin activation, neutrophil adhesion and inflammation
5. Monitoring of leukocyte dynamics in diseases using intravital microscopy and in vivo flow cytometry (IVFC).
2021 - 2023
Pilot & Feasibility Award (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation)
Impact of CFTR in monocyte adhesion and integrin function