Ting Zhou, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Ting received his Bachelor’s degree from China Agricultural University in 2006, and Ph.D. degree in Structural Biology from Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2014. Then he went to do his first postdoctoral training at Yale University, studying HCV NS3 helicase kinetics. In 2016, he switched to Yale Immunobiology, diving into a new journey of exploring cytokine functions in tumor immune microenvironment and engineering cytokine for cancer immunotherapy. Ting joined Westlake University in 2021 as an assistant professor and principal investigator.

Luming Zhao, Ph.D.

Research Associate Scientist

Luming obtained his bachelor’s degree in biological science from Nanjing University in 2013, and doctoral degree in immunology from Pennsylvania State University in the U.S. in 2019. His current research interests focus on immunological mechanisms by which cytokine perturbations impact the cancer immunity cycle.

Ying Zhang, Ph.D.

(Westlake laboratory fellow)

Ying received her bachelor’s degree from FuJian Agriculture and Forestry University, and doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from Zhejiang University in 2020. Her current research interest focuses on synthetic engineering new cytokine modality for cancer immunotherapy. Outside the lab, she likes literature and Sakurazaka46.

Xin Fu

2020 Graduate Student

Xin received his bachelor’s degree in public health and preventive medicine from the School of Medicine, Nanchang university in 2016. He then moved to the field of nanomedicine to pursue his master’s degree. He is currently studying the niche environment in immune organs and how cytokines coordindate immune cell development.

Zongfang Wei

2021 Graduate Student

Zongfang received her bachelor’s degree in 2017 and master’s degree in 2021 both from Southwest University. She is now co-mentored by Dr Yongdeng Zhang and Dr Ting Zhou. Taking advantage of Zhang lab super-resolution imaging techniques, zongfang tries to capture the cool interplay of antigen presenting cells (APCs) and T cells in and out of the tumor microenvironment. She likes doing running, hiking, photography and so on hobbies.

Haichao Tang

2021 Graduate Student

Haichao received her bachelor’s degree in 2018 and master’s degree on dendritic cell vaccine design from China Medical University in 2021. In Zhou lab, she tries to uncover a broader perspective of tumor evasion mechanism, specifically the malfunction of the APC-T axis between the tumor microenvironment and immune organs. She is the first one in the lab that initiated and successfully applied HSPC-based in vivo CRISPR Screening and Perturb-seq to identify novel regulatory signal pathways in myeloid cells. Outside the lab, she likes playing badminton and frisbee.

Juju miao

2021 Graduate Student

Juju received her bachelor’s degree from Huazhong Agricultural University in 2017, and master’s degree on tumor biology from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2020. Her current research interest focuses on Neural-immune regulation in eliciting anti-tumor CD8+ T cell responses. Additionally, she collaborates with Dr Xiaojun Xu’s team from Zhejiang Children’s hospital to study EBV-infection-mediated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Outside the lab, she likes swimming and floriculture.

Junchen Dong

2022 Graduate Student

Junchen received his bachelor’s degree from Jiangnan University in 2019, and master’s degree on T cell biology and viral immunology from Xiamen University in 2022. His current research interest focuses on investigating factors controlling T cell function and differentiation during cancer progression and chronic infection. Outside the lab, he likes Werewolves and singing. Motto: It’s Not How Many Times You Get Knocked Down, But How Many Times You Get Back Up.

Jinpeng Zheng

2022 Graduate Student

Jinpeng received his bachelor’s degree from Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in 2019, and master’s degree on pharmaceutics topics fro Medical Research Institute in 2022. In Zhou lab, he uses immuno-pharmacology tools to revisit the history of cytokine immunotherapy and tries to develop his new visions. He likes outdoor sports, such as swimming, running, and skiing, and would like to pursue a combined civilized spirit and barbaric body at Westlake U.

Yaxuan Wei

2023 Graduate Student

Yaxuan received her bachelor’s degree from Beihua University in 2019. During her master’s study at Soochow University, she identified a new protein-protein interaction that regulates thrombogenesis. Her current research interest focuses on how tissue environmental niche regulates immune cell development, functionality, and immunotherapeutic efficacy. Outside the lab, she likes doing frisbee hobbies.

Yaodong Zhao

2023 Graduate Student

Yaodong received her bachelor’s degree from China Agricultural University Life Science Experimental Class in 2019, and master’s degree on intervention of cell senescence from Peking University in 2023. Currently, she is trying to understand the immune cell development and functionality in immune organ. She is a soccer fan of Messi and regards the champion Argentina team 2022 as her spiritual totem. Believing that “ways are always more than difficulties”, she always optimistically tries her best to become beautiful, youthful, healthy and happy.

Xiaohe Ma

2023 Graduate Student

Xiaohe received her bachelor’s degree from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in 2018. In her master’s study at Hangzhou Normal University, she identified a newly post-translational modification of PD-L1. Her current research interest focuses on how the immune cells are dysregulated during cancer progression and EBV infection. In her daily life, she likes cats and walking.

Jinzhe Chen

Research Assistant

Jinzhe received her bachelor’s degree from Shandong First Medical University in 2020, and master’s degree on biology and medicine from Huazhong University of Science and technology in 2022. Her current research interest focuses on In vivo CRISPR screening to identify immune evasion mechanism in lung cancer. Outside the lab, she likes climbing and cycling.

Jing Miao

Visiting student

Jing received her master’s degree in clinical medicine from Zhejiang University in 2022 and worked in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in the same year. She is currently pursuing a M.D. in Pediatrics, and her research focuses on the pathogenesis and therapy of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in children. She likes Chinese dancing and traveling.

Lulu Wu

Research Assistant

Lulu received her bachelor’s degree from Chongqing Medical University in 2017. Before joining Zhou lab, she worked as bioinformatic engineer in the leading employers of this field. She is the bioinformatic guru of the lab. Our lab website is also one of her piece of art. Outside the lab, she likes Chinese calligraphy.

Jinmin Xu

Research Assistant

Jinmin received her bachelor’s degree from Guangxi Medical University in 2022. Her current research interest focuses on immune evasion mechanisms of melanoma. She also helps the lab to maintain all animal strains. Outside the lab, she likes hiking and playing basketball.

Jing Gan

Administrative Assistant

Jing graduated from Zhejiang Gongshang University with her bachelor’s degree in 2019, majored in food science and engineering&food safety and quality. She joined Zhou lab as an administrative assistant in 2021, working on administrative affairs. She loves to play piano and sing songs in her spare time. As an out-going girl, she would like to make friends with anyone.

Previous lab members

1 ) Xiaorui Wei, Research assistant. Current status: Scientist at GenScript.
2 ) Zhangliang Cheng, Visiting student. Current status: PhD student at Yale.
3 ) Huimin Lai, Research assistant. Current status: PhD student at Westlake U.
4 ) Jing Tang, Research assistant. Current status: Research assistant in Canada.