Biography:

Dr. Gao, a professor and doctoral supervisor since 2019, earned his BSc from USTC (2010) and PhD in Immunology from UT Southwestern (2015). After postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University (2016-2019), he pioneered research on nucleic acid-triggered innate immunity in viral infections, autoimmunity, and cancer, with breakthrough findings published in Science, Science Immunology, JCI and JEM. His work has garnered international acclaim, including the AAS Young Investigator Award and Revson Fellowship, driving innovative nucleic acid-based immunotherapies for cancer.

Research Interest:

Our long-term research explores nucleic acid-triggered innate immunity, aiming to develop immune modulators for viral infections, autoimmunity, aging-related diseases and cancer immunotherapy. By deciphering innate immunity’s regulatory mechanisms, we seek to uncover its role in disease progression and create innovative therapeutics.

What You Can Expect in the Project:

Innate immunity plays a critical role in antiviral defense and aging, with its modulators offering potential therapeutic targets. We employ gene cloning and overexpression to investigate the function of specific genes in these processes. Additionally, we study the effects of screened chemicals on antiviral immunity and aging, aiming to identify novel strategies for disease treatment.

Desired skill and background:

Molecular biology and cell culture technique