Coordination of T cell signaling programs with their activation states and fate decisions is a fundamental paradigm in adaptive immunity. T cells undergo extensive signaling programing during differentiation and in adaptation to different contexts. Our lab is extremely interested in exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the T cell functional adaptationsin the context of tumor immunity and autoimmunity, by using a combination of experimental systems including mouse genetics, cellular and molecular immunology, models of autoimmune and malignant diseases, as well as systems biology approaches (e.g. CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis screening and single cell RNA-sequencing).
Ph.D. in Immunology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China, 2008-2013
Visiting Scholar, Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA, 2009-2010
B.S. in Life Science, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China, 2004-2008
Principal Investigator, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China, 2021–
Scientific Manager, Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA, 2019–2021
Staff Scientist, Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA, 2018–2019
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA, 2013–2018
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1. Gao Y; Chi Y; Chen Y; Wang W; Li H; Zheng W; Zhu P; An J; Duan Y; Sun T; Liu X; Xue F; Liu W; Fu R; Han Z; Zhang Y; Yang R; Cheng T; Wei J*; Zhang L*; Zhang X*. (2023) Multi-omics analysis of human mesenchymal stem cells shows cell aging that alters immunomodulatory activity through the downregulation of PD-L1. Nature Communications, 4373(14)
2. Long L#, Wei J#, Lim SA, Raynor J, Shi H, Connelly JP, Wang H, Guy C, Xie B, Chapman NW, Fu G, Wang Y, Huang H, Su W, Saravia J, Risch I, Wang Y-D, Li Y, Niu M, Dhungana Y, KC A, Zhou P, Vogel P, Yu J, Pruett-Miller SM, Peng J, Chi H. (2021) CRISPR screens unveil signal hubs for nutrient licensing of T cell immunity. Nature, 600(7888):308-313
3. Lim SA#, Wei J#, Nguyen TM, Shi H, Su W, Palacios G, Dhungana Y, Chapman NM, Long L, Saravia J, Vogel P, Chi H. (2021) Lipid signalling enforces functional specialization of Treg cells in tumours. Nature, 591(7849):306-311 (Selected by News and Views, Nature, 591(7849):204-206, 2021; F1000 recommended article)
4. Wei J, Zheng W, Chapman NW, Geiger TL, Chi H. (2021) T cell metabolism in homeostasis and cancer immunity. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 68:240-250. (Invited review)
5. Wei J#, Long L#, Zheng W, Dhungana Y, Lim S, Guy C, Wang Y, Wang Y-D, Qian C, Xu B, KC A, Saravia J, Huang H, Yu J, Doench JG, Geiger TL, Chi H. (2019) Targeting REGNASE-1 programs long-lived effector T cells for cancer therapy. Nature, 576(7787):471-476 (Selected by News and Views, Nature, 576(7787):392-393, 2019; Selected by Research Highlights, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 19:91, 2020; Selected by Research Highlight, Nature Immunology, 21:103, 2020; F1000 recommended article)
6. Wei J, Raynor J, Nguyen TL, Chi H. (2017) Nutrient and metabolic sensing in T cell responses. Frontiers in Immunology, 8:247. (Invited review)
7. Wei J, Long L, Yang K, Guy C, Shrestha S, Chen Z, Wu C, Vogel P, Neale G, Green DR, Chi H. (2016) Autophagy enforces functional integrity of regulatory T cells by coupling environmental cues and metabolic homeostasis. Nature Immunology, 17(3):277-85. (Cover Story; Selected by Research Highlights, Nature Reviews Immunology, 16(4):203, 2016)