James Moon, PhD

J. G. Searle Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy; Professor of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering; Professor of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering

734/936-2570

[email protected]

North Campus Research Complex
2800 Plymouth Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800

B010-A190 NCRC

Lab Website

Michigan Experts Website

Download CV

Role Overview and Bio

Education/Training

2012 Postdoc, Materials Science and Biological Engineering, MIT (HHMI)
2008 PhD, Bioengineering, Rice University
2002 BS, Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley

Research Statement

The Moon Lab at the University of Michigan is developing new immunotherapies and vaccines at the interface of immunology, pharmaceutics, and engineering. We design new drug delivery systems for improving immune functions in the context of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and the gut microbiome. Our translational immunoengineering research utilizes tools of nanotechnology, biomaterials, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and advanced high-throughput methods to detect and improve immune functions.

Highlights

2023 The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Fellow
2023 Samyang Controlled Release Society Award in Honor of Sung Wan Kim
2023 Controlled Release Society Fellow
2022 Biomedical Engineering Society Fellow
2018 AAPS Emerging Leader Award

Research Interests

We are developing new drug delivery systems for improving immune functions in the context of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and the gut microbiome.

Awards

2006 Sigma Xi Graduate Student Research Award, Sigma Xi
2007 Graduate Student Research Award, North American Vascular Biology Organization, North American Vascular Biology Organization
2008 Mary F.D. Morse Graduate Fellowship Award, Rice University, Bioengineering Department
2010 TERMIS Young Investigator Award, TERMIS
2011 IEEE-EMBS Harvard Wyss Institute Award for Translational Research, IEEE-EMBS
2012 NIH K22 Research Scholar Development Award, National Institute of Health
2012 American Association of Immunologist Trainee Award, American Assocaition of Immunogists
2014 Best Poster Award, American Society for Nanomedicine
2014 New Investigator Award in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technologies, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
2015 Melanoma Research Alliance Young Investigator Award, Melanoma Research Alliance
2016 National Science Foundation CAREER Award, National Science Foundation
2016 Department of Defense Career Development Award (CDMRP), DOD
2017 Outstanding Bioengineering Alumnus Award, Rice University, Bioengineering Department
2017 Young Innovator of Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, CMBE Journal & BMES Society
2017 University of Michigan Senior Forbes Scholar, University of Michigan Cancer Center
2017 Emerald Foundation Distinguished Investigator Award, Emerald Foundation
2018 Emerging Leader Award, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
2018 Mid-Career Nanotechnology Scientific Award, Applied Nanotech and Nanoscience International Conference
2022 Biointerfaces Institute Innovator Award, Biointerfaces Institute
2022 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
2022 Mid-career Biosciences Faculty Achievement Recognition Award, University of Michigan
2023 Samyang CRS Award in Honor of Sung Wan Kim, Controlled Release Society (CRS)
2023 The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Fellow, The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)

Selected Publications

Han K, Xie F, Animasahun O, Nenwani M, Kitamoto S, Kim Y, Phoo MT, Xu J, Wuchu F, Omoloja K, Achreja A, Choppara S, Li Z, Gong W, Cho YS, Dobson H, Ahn J, Zhou X, Huang X, An X, Kim A, Xu Y, Wu Q, Lee SH, O’Konek JJ, Xie Y, Lei YL, Kamada N, Nagrath D, Moon JJ§. Inulin-gel-based oral immunotherapy remodels the small intestinal microbiome and suppresses food allergy. doi: 10.1038/s41563-024-01909-w, 2024. Nature Materials

Sun S, Zhou X, Shi X, Abed OA, An X, Lei YL, Moon JJ§. Strategies for the development of metalloimmunotherapies. doi: 10.1038/s41551-024-01221-7, 2024. Nature Biomedical Engineering

Sun X, Zhang Y, Li J, Park KS, Han K, Zhou X, Xu Y, Nam J, Xu J, Shi X, Wei L, Lei YL, Moon JJ. Amplifying STING Activation by Cyclic Dinucleotide-Manganese Particles for Local and Systemic Cancer Metalloimmunotherapy. 16, 11, 1260-1270, 2021, Nature Nanotechnology.

Han K, Nam J, Xu J, Sun X, Huang X, Animasahun O, Achreja A, Joen JH, Pursley B, Kamada N, Chen GY, Nagrath D, Moon JJ^§. Generation of systemic antitumour immunity via the in situ modulation of the gut microbiome by an orally administered inulin gel. 5, 1377-1388, 2021, Nature Biomedical Eng.

Lee Y, Sugihara K, Gillilland MG 3rd, Jon S, Kamada N, Moon JJ^§. Hyaluronic acid–bilirubin nanomedicine for targeted modulation of dysregulated intestinal barrier, microbiome and immune responses in colitis. 19, 1, 118-126, 2020, Nature Materials.

Scheetz L*, Park KS*, Li Q, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG, Schwendeman A, Moon JJ^§. Engineering patient-specific cancer immunotherapies. 3, 10, 768-782, 2019, Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Nam J*, Son S*, Park KS, Zou W, Shea L, Moon JJ^§. Cancer nanomedicine for combination cancer immunotherapy. 4, 398-414, 2019, Nature Reviews Materials.

Nam J*, Son S*, Ochyl LJ, Kuai R, Schwendeman A, and Moon JJ^§. Chemo-photothermal therapy combination elicits anti-tumor immunity against advanced metastatic cancer. 9, 1, 1074, 2018, Nature Communications.

Kuai R, Ochyl LJ, Bahjat KS, Schwendeman A^§ and Moon JJ^§. Designer vaccine nanodiscs for personalized cancer immunotherapy. 16, 4, 489-496, 2017, Nature Materials. ^§Co-corresponding authors.