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Explore our cutting edge research, world-class patient care, career opportunities and more.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Home
- Fundraising
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.
Immunology Faculty
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Hongbo Chi, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Chair, Department of Immunology
Robert G. Webster Endowed Chair in Immunology
Co-Director, Center of Excellence for Pediatric Immuno-Oncology (CEPIO)
Associate Director, Basic Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center
Hongbo Chi, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Chair, Department of Immunology
Robert G. Webster Endowed Chair in Immunology
Co-Director, Center of Excellence for Pediatric Immuno-Oncology (CEPIO)
Associate Director, Basic Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Studying how metabolism influences immune cell fate, including T cells and dendritic cells
- Exploring nutrient signaling pathways in T cell development, quiescence, and differentiation
- Using CRISPR screens to identify targets for improving T cell function and CAR T therapies
- Applying multi-omics tools to uncover immune mechanisms in cancer, autoimmunity, and neurodegeneration
Contact Information
Hongbo Chi, PhD
Immunology
MS 351, Room E7053
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Peter C. Doherty, PhD
Emeritus, St. Jude Faculty
Nobel Laureate
Michael F. Tamer Chair of Biomedical Research
Peter C. Doherty, PhD
Emeritus, St. Jude Faculty
Nobel Laureate
Michael F. Tamer Chair of Biomedical Research
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Cell-mediated immunity
- T cell recognition and repertoire
- Immunological tolerance
- Viral immunology
- Immunopathology
- Immune memory
Contact Information
Peter C. Doherty, PhD
Immunology
MS 351, Room E7062
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Yongqiang Feng, PhD
Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty
Yongqiang Feng, PhD
Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Epigenetic and transcriptional control of regulatory T cell lineage specification and function
- Mechanisms governing regulatory T cell stability and plasticity
- Development of new tools and analytical platforms to investigate T cell tolerance
Contact Information
Yongqiang Feng, PhD
Immunology
MS 351, Room E7064
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Pietro Fontana, DPhil
Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Structural innate immunity and immunotherapy lab
- Targeting inflammation with small molecule
Contact Information
Pietro Fontana, DPhil
Immunology
MS 1160, Room I6108
St. Jude Childen's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Douglas Green, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Co-Leader, Cancer Biology Program
Peter C. Doherty Endowed Chair of Immunology
Douglas Green, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Co-Leader, Cancer Biology Program
Peter C. Doherty Endowed Chair of Immunology
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Central mechanisms of apoptosis in cancer and the immune system
Contact Information
Douglas Green, PhD
Immunology
MS 351, Room E7050
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Bo Hu, PhD
Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Neuro-Immunology
- Immunometabolism
- Tumor immunology
- Innate immunity
Contact Information
Bo Hu, PhD
Immunology
MS 351, Room M5418
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, 38105
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Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Vice-Chair, Immunology Department
Director, Center of Excellence for Innate Immunity and Inflammation
Rose Marie Thomas Endowed Chair
Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Vice-Chair, Immunology Department
Director, Center of Excellence for Innate Immunity and Inflammation
Rose Marie Thomas Endowed Chair
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Innate immunity
- Inflammasomes and inflammatory cell death, PANoptosis
- Inflammatory and infectious diseases and cancer
- Cytokine signaling
Contact Information
Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, PhD
Immunology
MS 351, Room M5426
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Paul G. Thomas, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Innate and adaptive immunity to influenza
- T-cell receptor repertoires in infection and cancer
- Influenza-associated immune-induced healing responses and pathology
- CD8 T-cell memory and recall potential
Contact Information
Paul G. Thomas, PhD
Immunology
MS 351, Room M5413
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Benjamin A. Youngblood, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Benjamin A. Youngblood, PhD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Viral Immunity
- CD8 T-cell memory differentiation
- CD8 T-cell exhaustion
- Epigenetic regulation of T-cell functions
- Therapeutic vaccination
Contact Information
Benjamin A. Youngblood, PhD
Immunology
MS 351
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Yunlong Zhao, PhD
Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty
Yunlong Zhao, PhD
Assistant Member, St. Jude Faculty
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Investigating cis-interactions, where receptors and ligands on the same cell engage, to gain new insights into immune system regulation
- Exploring molecular and cellular cues that influence anti-tumor responses utilizing membrane reconstitution systems and advanced imaging
- Translating research findings into novel therapeutic strategies that improve immunotherapy outcomes beyond current standards
Contact Information
Yunlong Zhao, PhD
Center of Excellence for Pediatric Immuno-Oncology
MS 1160
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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
Learn from our Progress
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St. Jude On Immunity in the spotlight: how vaccinations and the immune system protect us
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St. Jude On Understanding the complex networks behind a functional adaptive immune system
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St. Jude On How scientists visualize and analyze T cells
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Department of Immunology
MS351
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA GET DIRECTIONS