^{Chair: Hongbo Chi, PhD}

Department of Immunology

About the Department

The Department of Immunology at St. Jude is committed to understanding the fundamental cell biology of the immune system. This complex network of processes and players is key to defending the body from infection and disease. By deciphering the identity, development, and regulation of the immune system, our researchers are able to build a deeper understanding of normal and pathologic function.

The Department of Immunology is home to venerated icons, rising stars and pivotal players in the field. Our investigators are world leaders in innate and adaptive immunity with access to outstanding departmental cores and cutting-edge technologies. We leverage close ties to clinical scientists and experts in human cancer and immunotherapy forming collaborative and innovative teams. The Department also benefits from highlight skilled computational support that maintains an in depth understanding of immunology.

In the news

Hongbo Chi, PhD named Chair of Department of Immunology at St. Jude

Research
programs

Hongbo Chi, PhD

Member, St. Jude Faculty
Chair, Department of Immunology
Robert G. Webster Endowed Chair in Immunology
Comprehensive Cancer Center

Research focus:
Investigating the mechanisms of immune cell metabolism in T cell biology, systems immunology and human disease

Chi Lab
Yongqiang Feng, PhD

Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty
Immunology Department
Comprehensive Cancer Center

Research focus:
Deciphering epigenetic control of T cell repertoire diversity and function

Feng Lab
Douglas R. Green, PhD

Member, St. Jude Faculty
Co-Leader, Cancer Biology Program
Peter C. Doherty Endowed Chair of Immunology
Immunology Department
Comprehensive Cancer Center

Research focus:
Discovering key processes of cell death, survival, and regulation of immune responses

Green Lab
Bo Hu, PhD

Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty
Immunology Department

Research focus:
Neuro-immunology, immunometabolism, tumor immunology, innate immunity

Faculty Bio
Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, PhD

Member, St. Jude Faculty
Vice-Chair, Immunology Department
Rose Marie Thomas Endowed Chair
Immunology Department
Comprehensive Cancer Center

Research focus:
Investigating inflammasomes and inflammatory cell death, PANoptosis, in infectious and inflammatory disease and cancer

Kanneganti Lab
Benjamin A. Youngblood, PhD

Member, St. Jude Faculty
Immunology Department
Comprehensive Cancer Center

Research focus:
Exploring epigenetic regulation of T cell adaptive immunity

Youngblood Lab
Yunlong Zhao, PhD

Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty
Department of Immunology

Research focus:
Decoding the spatial orchestration of T-cell co-receptor signaling to reshape anti-tumor responses

Zhao Lab

Joint Appointment

Paul G. Thomas, PhD

Member, St. Jude Faculty
Immunology Department
Comprehensive Cancer Center

Research focus:
Decoding the immune response to explain human health and disease

Thomas Lab

Emeritus

Peter Doherty, PhD

Emeritus, St. Jude Faculty
Immunology Department

Research focus:
Cell-mediated immunity, T cell recognition and repertoire, immunological tolerance, viral immunology, immunopathology, and immune memory

Peter Doherty Bio

Core resources

Immunologic Imaging

The Immunologic Imaging center offers a range of microscopic techniques, including super resolution microscopy (STORM and SoRa), live cell microscopy, expansion microscopy, and other methodologies.

Core staff:
Cliff Guy, PhD - Director of Lab Operations

Flow Cytometry

The Department of Immunology houses a fully equipped flow cytometry facility with extensive capability for fluorescent sorting and analysis with high dimensionality.

Core staff:
Richard Cross, PhD – Director of Lab Operations
Greig Lennon, PhD – Scientist
Katie Hays – Senior Researcher
Soghra Fatima, PhD – Lead Researcher

Immunological Reagents

The Immunological Reagents core is a fully equipped facility for monoclonal antibody and tetramer preparation and provides assistance in genetic engineering of cells and mice.

Core staff:
Scott Brown, PhD – Director of Lab Operations
Emin Kuliyev, PhD – Lead Researcher

Immunometabolism

The Immunometabolism core offers targeted metabolomics, metabolic tracing, and mitochondrial metabolism assays with a focus on the cells of the immune system.

Core staff:
Gustavo Palacios, PhD – Research Operations Manager

Administrative Core

The Administrative Core oversees the daily functions of the Department of Immunology. Responsibilities include coordination of departmental activities, grant preparation and management, and the purchase and maintenance of common equipment.

Core staff:
Joshua Roberts – Administrative Director
Mitzi Atchison – Senior Administrative Assistant
Casey Deakins – Grants and Contracts Coordinator
Samantha Stith – Senior Administrative Specialist