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.

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 Students: Spring 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