LABORATORY
Guizhi (Julian) Zhu Laboratory
Guizhi (Julian) Zhu, PhD
B.S.: Nankai University, China
Ph.D.: University of Florida, USA
Postdoc training: National Institutes of Health, USA
The research in my lab lies at the interface of immunology, nucleic acid engineering, and functional biomaterials. Our current focus is to develop novel circRNA/mRNA/oligonucleotides immunotherapeutics and vaccines and their delivery systems for the prophylaxis and immunotherapy of cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Our research has been funded by federal and foundation grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD), and American Cancer Society (ACS).
Lab and Research Overview
Our research interests lie at the interface of immune-oncology, nucleic acid theranostics, immunotherapy, and functional biomaterials. My current focus is to develop therapeutics and vaccines for combination cancer immunotherapy, infectious disease prevention, and drug abuse treatment. Current primary research directions are listed below.
- mRNA vaccines for cancer immunotherapy and infectious disease prophylaxis.
- Novel nucleic acid immunotherapeutics for cancer immunotherapy (immunomodulatory DNA/RNA, mRNA, gene-editing gRNA, siRNA, aptamer)
- ADAR-targeted nucleic acid theranostics and immunomodulators
- Drug and vaccine delivery
- Biomaterials: Nanovaccine/Nanomedicine, polymer microneedle patches, hydrogel
Lab Members
Jordan Dailey, PhD
Research Specialist
Wenhua Li, MS
Research Lab Tech
You Xu, PhD
Research Fellow
Qiyan Wang, PhD
Research Fellow
Ri Tang, MD
Research Fellow
Yu Hao, PhD
Research Fellow
Shimiao Liao, PhD
Research Fellow
Guolan Xiao, PhD
Research Fellow
Sicong Ma, PhD
Research Fellow
Ting Xu, PhD
Research Fellow
Rong Zheng, MD
Visiting Research Fellow
Qiwei Yao, MD
Visiting Research Fellow
Zitong Wang, BS
PhD student
Qing Sun, MS
PhD student (co-mentored with Dr. Moon)
Xiang Liu, MS
PhD student
Shurong Zhou, MS
PhD student
