Photo of Zhichao  Fan, PhD

Zhichao Fan, PhD

Assistant Professor of Immunology
Academic Office Location:
Immunology
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-1319
Phone: 860-679-6776
Email: zfan@uchc.edu
Website(s):

Fan Lab

Department of Immunology

Immunology Graduate Program

Immuno-Cardio Group

Dr. Zhichao Fan is an Assistant Professor of Immunology whose research lies in the field of innate immunology and inflammation. Specifically, his research focuses on the molecular mechanism of integrin activation on leukocyte adhesion during inflammatory diseases, including myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and cystic fibrosis, which he examines using advanced microscopy, including super-resolution single molecular microscopy, intravital microscopy, qDF microscopy, and IVFC.

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
PhDFudan UniversityChemical Biology

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
PostdoctoralLa Jolla Institute for ImmunologyImmunology

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
2023 AAI Early Career Faculty Travel GrantAmerican Association of Immunologists
Research GrantCystic Fibrosis Foundation
2023 Excellence in Leukocyte Biology Award: Early Career FinalistSociety for Leukocyte Biology
2022 AAI Early Career Faculty Travel GrantAmerican Association of Immunologists
Pilot & Feasibility AwardCystic Fibrosis Foundation
2021 AAI Early Career Faculty Grant American Association of Immunologists
2020 AAI Early Career Faculty Travel GrantAmerican Association of Immunologists
2020 Cell & Molecular Physiology Section New Investigator AwardAmerican Physiological Society
2019 SLB Meeting Travel AwardSociety for Leukocyte Biology
R01 Research Project GrantNational Institutes of Health
2019 AAI Early Career Faculty Travel GrantAmerican Association of Immunologists
Career Development AwardAmerican Heart Association
2017 Pappenheimer Postdoctoral Travel AwardThe Microcirculatory Society
WSA Postdoctoral FellowshipAmerican Heart Association
2016 Pappenheimer Postdoctoral Travel AwardThe Microcirculatory Society
2016 AAI Trainee Abstract AwardAmerican Association of Immunologists
2015 AAI Young Investigator Award at the La Jolla Immunology ConferenceAmerican Association of Immunologists
Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)Study SectionAd hoc reviewerExternalInternational2024
American Physiological Society, Award CommitteeProfessional/Scientific OrganizationCommittee memberExternalInternational2023
Society for Leukocyte Biology, Publication CommitteeProfessional/Scientific OrganizationCommittee memberExternalInternational2023
Symposium 17 “Leukocyte recruitment in microvascular inflammation”, World Congress of MicrocirculationWorkshop/ConferenceChairExternalInternational20232023
SIG 3 “Myeloid Cells in Inflammatory Diseases”, Society for Leukocyte Biology Annual MeetingWorkshop/ConferenceChairExternalInternational20232023
Frontiers in ImmunologyEditorial BoardAssociate EditorExternalInternational2022
German Research FoundationStudy SectionAd hoc reviewerExternalInternational2022
Immunology Fellowship Review Committee, Fellowship Award, American Heart AssociationStudy SectionCommittee memberExternalInternational2022
Biomed. Sci. PhD program Admissions CommitteeEducation CommitteeCommittee memberUConn HealthUniversity2022
Med-XEditorial BoardEditorial Board MemberExternalInternational2022
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental BiologyEditorial BoardAssociate EditorExternalInternational2021
BiomoleculesEditorial BoardGuest EditorExternalInternational2021
Frontiers in PharmacologyEditorial BoardGuest Associate EditorExternalInternational2021
Frontiers in ImmunologyEditorial BoardGuest Associate EditorExternalInternational20212022
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection MicrobiologyEditorial BoardReview EditorExternalInternational2021
American Physiological Society, the Cell and Molecular Physiology SectionProfessional/Scientific OrganizationChair of Nominating CommitteeExternalInternational20212024
Virtual Immunology 2021Workshop/ConferenceBlock Symposium Chair/ModeratorExternalInternational20212021
Medical Research CouncilProfessional/Scientific OrganizationGrant ReviewerExternalInternational2021
CDA Basic Science 1 Review Committee, Career Development Award, American Heart AssociationStudy SectionCommittee memberExternalInternational2021
Medical Research Council, UKStudy SectionAd hoc reviewerExternalInternational2021
the Journal of ImmunologyEditorial BoardAssociate EditorExternalInternational2020
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental BiologyEditorial BoardGuest Associate EditorExternalInternational20202021
MicrocirculationEditorial BoardEditorial BoardExternalInternational2020
Society of Leukocyte BiologyProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational2019
Biomedical Engineering SocietyProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational2018
American Society for Cell BiologyProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational2018
American Physiological SocietyProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational2018
American Association of ImmunologistsProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational2015
American Heart AssociationProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational2015
Microcirculatory SocietyProfessional/Scientific OrganizationMemberExternalInternational2015

Neutrophils are the most abundant population of human leukocytes (~60%) and play critical roles in infections and inflammation. Circulating neutrophils are recruited to inflamed or infected tissue. The recruitment cascade is initiated by selectin-mediated rolling and chemokine-triggered integrin-dependent arrest (firm adhesion) of neutrophils on the vascular endothelium under flow. Thus, rolling and arrest are two major processes to target for fighting against inflammatory diseases (decrease rolling and arrest) and infections (increase rolling and arrest).


My long-term research interests involve the development of a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of integrin activation and leukocyte recruitment and how they contribute to human disease, especially inflammation in cardiovascular diseases, which I  examine using advanced microscopy, including super-resolution single molecular microscopy, intravital microscopy, and quantitative dynamic footprinting microscopy.  My current ongoing projects include:


1. Molecular mechanism and clinical relevance of the auto-inhibitory in-cis interaction of integrin and their ligands;


2. Identifying new molecules involved in the pathway of integrin activation and clustering;


3. Pharmacology test of drugs targeting integrins in vitro and in disease models (myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury)


4. High-throughput screening of drugs inhibiting integrin activation and inflammation.


5. Monitoring of leukocyte dynamics in diseases using intravital microscopy and in vivo flow cytometry (IVFC).

NIH-supported Postdoctoral Fellow Positions in Leukocyte Biology and Immunology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine (UConn Health)


Our laboratory is looking for motivated postdoctoral fellows to study integrin activation and leukocyte trafficking in inflammatory diseases using advanced microscopy, such as super-resolution microscopy, high-resolution live-cell imaging, and intravital microscopy.


We work on primary human leukocytes, leukocyte-like cell lines, and gene-edited mice to answer questions regarding integrin activation and leukocyte trafficking. Multiple advanced microscopy, from single-molecular level super-resolution microscopy to physiological-relevant intravital microscopy, will be used.


The PI is a faculty member of the Department of Immunology at UConn Health (https://health.uconn.edu/immunology/). This is an exciting research environment to cultivate new research ideas and opportunities. The PI has received an R01 award from NIH and a startup fund to support our research. The candidate will receive excellent guidance on scientific research as well as career development (grants, awards, conferences, etc.).


Qualified applicants should have a Ph.D. degree in Cell Biology, Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, Cardiology, or in a related field, and have a strong record of publications. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in gene-editing in cells or mice, live-cell imaging, super-resolution imaging, or intravital imaging. People with inflammatory disease models in mice are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should send their CV, representative publications, and names of three references to Dr. Zhichao Fan (zfan@uchc.edu).  UConn Health is an affirmative action employer, in addition to an EEO and M/F/V/PWD/PV employer.


Qualified applicants should have a Ph.D. degree in Cell Biology, Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, Cardiology, or in a related field, and have a strong record of publications. Prevalence will be given to candidates with experience in gene-editing in cells and mice, live-cell imaging, super-resolution imaging, or intravital imaging. People with disease models in mice, such as myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should send their CV, representative publications and names of three references to Dr. Zhichao Fan (zfan@uchc.edu).


 

Accepting Lab Rotation StudentsSpring 1 and 2 Block 2025


What will you learn?


Biomedicine:


1. Integrin activation and functions


2. Leukocyte rolling, arrest, and migration


3. Leukocyte functions in inflammatory diseases, including heart attack, cystic fibrosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 2A, Cherubism, Peritonitis, and Psoriasis.


Techniques: 


1. Cell culture


2. In silicon microfluidic device


3. Fluorescence microscopy


4. Super-resolution microscopy


5. Intravital microscopy


6. Flow cytometry (time-lapse, high-throughput)


Careers:


1. Grant/fellowship writing


2. Paper writing


3. Conference opportunities


 

Journal Articles

Editorials

Reviews

Title or AbstractTypeSponsor/EventDate/YearLocation
Neutrophil-Specific Deletion of Beta2 Integrins Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Male MicePosterAmerican Heart Association2023Philadelphia, PA
Adhesion and Integrin Defects in CFTR-deficient MonocytesTalkSociety for Leukocyte Biology2023Athens, GA
Adhesion and Integrin Defects in CFTR-deficient MonocytesPosterSociety for Leukocyte Biology2023Athens, GA
Roles of mitofusin-2 in neutrophil adhesion and developmentTalkAugusta University2023Augusta, GA
Sex-specific and immune-cell-specific contributions of beta2 integrins in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injuryTalkWorld Congress of Microcirculation2023Beijing, China
Sex-specific and Immune-cell Specific Contributions of Beta2 Integrins in Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion InjuryTalkAmerican Physiology Summit2023Long Beach, CA
Sex-specific and Immune-cell Specific Contributions of Beta2 Integrins in Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion InjuryPosterAmerican Physiology Summit2023Long Beach, CA
CFTR in regulating monocyte recruitment and integrin functionTalkAmerican Association of Immunologists2023Washington D.C.
Sex-specific and immune-cell-specific contributions of CD18 in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injuryPosterAmerican Association of Immunologists2023Washington D.C.
Sex-specific and immune-cell-specific contributions of CD18 in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injuryPosterKeystone Symposia Conference D1: Myeloid Cells: Development, Diversity and2023Snowbird, UT
Sex-specific and leukocyte-specific contributions of beta2 integrins in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injuryTalkSociety for Leukocyte Biology2023Athens, GA
Nexinhib20 Inhibits Neutrophil Adhesion and ß2 Integrin Activation by Antagonizing Rac-1-GTP InteractionTalkGordon Research Conferences on Phagocytes2022Oxnard, CA, United States
Bone Marrow Transplantation Rescues Monocyte Recruitment Defect and Improves Cystic Fibrosis in MiceTalkCystic Fibrosis Foundation2022Virtual
Neutrophils in Cherubism miceTalkUConn Health School of Dental Medicine2022Virtual
Targeting Integrin Activation to Limit Neutrophil InflammationTalkUConn Health Immunology Graduate Program Retreat2022Avon, CT, USA
Nexinhib20 inhibits neutrophil adhesion and ß2 integrin activation to prevent myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injuryPosterIMMUNOLOGY20222022Portland, OR, USA
Nexinhib20 prevents myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting neutrophil adhesion and ß2 integrin activationPosterKeystone Symposia Conference X4: Myeloid Cells: From Birth to Immunity and2022Banff, AB, Canada
Nexinhib20 prevents myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting neutrophil adhesion and beta2 integrin activationPosterExperimental Biology 20222022Philadelphia, PA , USA
Mitofusin-2 regulates leukocyte adhesion through the maturation of beta2 integrin activation in differentiationTalkIMMUNOLOGY20212021Virtual
Mitofusin-2 regulates leukocyte adhesion through the maturation of ß2 integrin activation in differentiationPosterEXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 20212021Virtual
Nexinhib 20 Prevents Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion Injury By Inhibiting Neutrophil Adhesion And Beta2 Integrin ActivationPosterBasic Cardiovascular Sciences 20212021Virtual
Mitofusin-2 regulates Neutrophil Adhesion, ß2 Integrin Activation, and DevelopmentTalkEast Tennessee State University2021Johnson City, Tennessee
Roles of Mitofusin-2 in Neutrophil Adhesion and ß2 Integrin ActivationTalkClinical Research Center, UConn Health2021Virtual
Integrin Activation and Neutrophil Adhesion under MicroscopesTalkDepartment of Cell Biology, UConn Health2020Farmington, Connecticut
Integrin Activation and Neutrophil Adhesion under MicroscopesTalkCenter for Cell Analysis and Modeling, UConn Health2020Virtual
Mitofusin-2 regulates leukocyte adhesion through the maturation of ß2 integrin activation in differentiationPosterCell Bio Virtual 20202020Virtual
Auto-inhibitory integrin activation during human neutrophil arrestTalkImmuno-Cardio Group, UConn Health2019Farmington, Connecticut
Kindlin-3 organizes a ring of clustered high affinity ß2 integrins during human neutrophil spreading under flowPoster Society for Leukocyte Biology2019Boston, Massachusetts