Zhiheng He

Tackling Gut Inflammation Through Immune Cell Research. Our lab is focused on uncovering how immune cells drive gut inflammation in two distinct yet related conditions:
1. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), chronic and relapsing conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
2. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI)-Induced Colitis, a rising side effect of cancer immunotherapy
Although these diseases have different origins, both result from overactive immune responses in the intestine. Our goal is to identify what makes certain immune cells harmful and how to stop them without impairing protective immunity or anti-tumor defense. We combine basic research (using mouse models, single-cell profiling, and CRISPR) with translational studies (including patient-derived samples and therapeutic testing) to develop more precise, effective treatments.

• Cellular and molecular regulation of Th17 cells and ILC3s in mucosal immunity and inflammatory bowel

• Akbari, Omid
• Wang, Rongfu
• Chaudhary, Preet
• Frey, Mark
• Bensinger, Steven
• Gill, Parkash