Our vision is to work on the intersection of cell fate and immuno-engineering to invent solutions for cancers, autoimmune diseases, and aging. Our approaches are backed up by cutting-edge single-cell technologies, computational science, machine learning, and stem cell technologies.

Cell Fate

We are studying how cell lineage in human embryos is determined. We established peri-implantation embryoids from human stem cells (Chao, 2023. STTT). We exploit single-cell multiomics, molecular barcoding, and label-free high throughput imaging to address these questions.

-          What is the very beginning of human blood development;

-          Can we predict differentiation trajectory from cell morphology

Immuno-engineering

Macrophages are the oldest immune cell type in both evolutionary and developmental. We hypothesize that macrophages are amenable and versatile platforms that confer de novo functions. We are engineering macrophages to target solid tumors. Our current focuses are

-          AB-CAR technology to remodel tumor microenvironment;

-          Fine-tuning signals and protein trafficking of CAR;

-          Novel platforms to determine how CAR-macrophages and tumor immune cells interact

Synthetic Immunology

With the advance of single-cell technologies, immune cell types are becoming more complex and overlapping. We hypothesize that immune cell types could be redefined by a combination of functional modules such as cytotoxic cytokine program, proliferation program, migration program, etc. By introducing defined sets of functional modules, one could rebuild the immune system. We propose the Immuno ChatGPT approach that can tell us the ideal set of functional modules for each situation.  We are aiming for these milestones.

-          Forward programming approach to determine immune functional modules;

-          Immuno ChatGPT to predict functional modules optimal to settle down neuroinflammation;

-          Reprogramming microglia in neurodegenerative diseases