About the Kanneganti Lab

Innate immunity is the first line of defense against disease. Sensing pathogens and homeostatic disruptions leads to signaling in innate immune and barrier cells that drives inflammation and cell death to combat infection or tumorigenesis. However, aberrant, excessive or chronic inflammation and cell death can contribute to the development of many diseases including autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders and cancer. Our laboratory seeks to gain fundamental insights into innate immune mechanisms to identify new processes, sensors and signaling molecules. This will inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

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The Team

The Kanneganti Lab is an interdisciplinary team of immunologists, microbiologists, and cell, molecular, structural, and cancer biologists

Our research summary

Our laboratory is known for fundamental discoveries elucidating functions of innate immune sensors, inflammasomes, and inflammatory cell death. Inflammation and cell death are key processes in host defense and the elimination of aberrant cells. Cell death pathways have historically been investigated using individual stimuli. However, this does not reflect the complexity in the body, where cells are constantly exposed to multiple stimuli that can be detected by innate immune sensors to drive inflammatory cell death. Using multidisciplinary approaches, our lab works to understand this complexity and identify the molecular mechanisms of innate immune sensing in cell death and disease to open new frontiers in research. Our work has identified extensive crosstalk among cell death molecules. Building on our findings, we pioneered the concept of PANoptosis, an innate immune, inflammatory, and lytic cell death pathway. Our lab continues to pursue studies that define the role of innate immune sensors and cell death molecules in health and disease.

Kanneganti Lab

Inflammasomes

Our lab has contributed to both the inception and maturation of the inflammasome field as a major research area in immunology and inflammation research. An inflammasome is a multimeric protein complex that is a critical component of the innate immune response. Inflammasomes form when certain innate immune sensors detect pathogen- or damage-associated molecular patterns. This complex formation drives the maturation and release of inflammatory IL-1 family cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18. These cytokines can be beneficial in host defense but can also lead to aberrant inflammation. 

As a founding member of the inflammasome field, we provided the first genetic evidence for the role of the innate immune sensor, NLRP3, in microbial-mediated inflammasome activation and established the importance of the NLRP3 inflammasome in intestinal inflammation, neuroinflammation, cancer, and metabolic diseases. In parallel, we have identified the activation mechanisms of other inflammasomes including NLRC4, NLRP1, PYRIN, and AIM2 in infection, inflammatory disease, and cancer. Additionally, we have characterized distinct, novel roles for IL-1 family cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-33) in disease. We continue to investigate these molecules and their roles in health and disease. 

Kanneganti Lab

PANoptosis

Our studies on inflammasomes led us, and others, to perform genetic, molecular and biochemical studies that identified extensive crosstalk among cell death molecules. Our work on these molecules established new paradigms connecting innate immune sensing to cell death and disease, advancing our understanding of pathway regulation and coordination during infection and inflammation. These findings led our lab to pioneer the paradigm-shifting concept of PANoptosis – a prominent innate immune, inflammatory cell death pathway initiated by innate immune sensors and driven by caspases and RIPKs through multi-protein PANoptosome complexes. Inflammasomes can also be integral components of these complexes. 

We identified ZBP1 as the first innate immune sensor to form a PANoptosome and induce PANoptosis. Building on this initial discovery, our work continues to elucidate pathogens, cytokine signaling pathways, and inflammatory syndromes that activate PANoptosis, implicating this process in infectious and autoinflammatory diseases, cancer, and beyond. To date, we have identified multiple PANoptosome complexes, including the ZBP1-, NLRP3-, NLRC5- and NLRP12-, RIPK1-, and AIM2-PANoptosomes, and described their roles in disease. Furthermore, we made transformative contributions to the cytokine field, defining the mechanistic basis for cytokine storm. Overall, PANoptosis is now implicated in driving innate immune responses and inflammation across the disease spectrum, and our lab is continuing to investigate the physiological roles of this process.

Ongoing research in our lab continues to focus on innate immunity, inflammasomes, and cell death in physiologically relevant conditions, with the goal of translating mechanistic insights into therapeutic opportunities. With more than 370 manuscripts, our fundamental work continues to reshape the way we understand innate immune cell death pathways, inform the development of therapeutics, and advance our understanding of innate immunity and inflammation.

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Join us

Posted October 02, 2025
Lead-Grants & Contracts Administrator- Immunology
Join Our Team!St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Department of Immunology are seeking a Lead Grants & Contracts Administrator to oversee the full lifecycle of grants, contracts, and subcontracts—from application to closeout. This role partners closely with faculty, principal investigators, and administrative staff to ensure compliant, timely submissions while managing expenditures in line with institutional policies and sponsor requirements.The ideal candidate will bring experience in both pre- and post-award administration, thrive in a fast-paced academic research environment, and demonstrate leadership in developing policies, guiding best practices, and training staff. This position also coordinates special projects, requiring close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders while upholding the highest standards of confidentiality and integrity.St. Jude is a top-ranked research hospital and NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center focused exclusively on children, bringing together over 300 faculty across scientific disciplines—including a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academies—to advance new treatments for pediatric cancer and life-threatening childhood diseases. Recognized as a “Best Workplace” by Fortune and Glassdoor, St. Jude combines innovation, stability, and an annual budget exceeding $2 billion.What You’ll DoLead operations and resources related to the administration of grants, contracts, and sponsored programs.Review and manage proposal submissions, budgets, subawards, and the award lifecycle.Support PIs and research groups in proposal development, reporting requirements, and compliance.Develop, revise, and finalize budgets with detailed justifications.Proactively coordinate monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for internal and external stakeholders.Monitor awards for progress, fiscal allowability, and project changes.Drive process improvement by developing and implementing SOPs, policies, and systems for efficiency.Mentor and guide team members by providing coaching, training, and professional development opportunities.Contribute to departmental and institutional priorities through additional projects as assigned. What We’re Looking ForBachelor’s degree required.At least 5 years of progressive experience in grants/contracts administration, financial management, or related roles.Demonstrated expertise in both pre- and post-award administration.Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.Experience working collaboratively with faculty, cross-functional teams, and external partners.Leadership or mentoring experience is a plus.Proven record of success in navigating complex federal and institutional regulations. Why Join UsBe part of a mission-driven culture where your work directly impacts groundbreaking science and clinical advances.Access competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and professional development opportunities.Collaborate in a supportive environment that values innovation and diverse perspectives.About MemphisSt. Jude is based in Memphis, Tennessee—a city known for its rich cultural heritage, affordable cost of living, and vibrant lifestyle.Nature: Explore the Mississippi River or the 4,500-acre Shelby Farms Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country.Culture: Experience world-famous music history and vibrant arts, from Elvis Presley’s Graceland to live blues on Beale Street.Affordability: Memphis consistently ranks among the most affordable U.S. cities, allowing your income to stretch further.Join us and help advance groundbreaking discoveries in the Department of Immunology, home to world leaders in innate and adaptive immunity and collaborators driving the future of pediatric immuno-oncology. CompensationIn recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $78,000 - $139,360 per year for the role of Lead-Grants & Contracts Administrator- Immunology.Explore our exceptional benefits!St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity EmployerNo Search FirmsSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.
Posted September 17, 2025
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Immunology
A Postdoctoral Research Associate will be recruited to conduct research on the epigenetic mechanisms controlling T cell differentiation and function in the context of autoimmune inflammation. He or she will be guided by PI to design and conduct experiments with mouse models and human T cells isolated from healthy donors. Besides, she or he will collaborate with other team members to analyze the results and present the findings in the form of scientific publications.A postdoctoral researcher position is available in Dr. Yong Feng’s laboratory at the Department of Immunology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/feng). Dr. Feng’s laboratory employs innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies to unravel the mechanisms underlying T cell tolerance in autoimmunity and anti-tumor immune responses. Highly motivated candidates with recently obtained Ph.D.s or equivalent degrees in immunology, molecular biology, cell or developmental biology, or bioinformatics are invited to apply. The candidate will be supported by a NIH grant to explore an emerging area in T cell biology. Beyond the unparalleled benefits for postdoctoral fellows at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the exceptional internal support and state-of-the-art facilities create an exceptional environment for training the next generation of immunologists. A cover letter of interest, CV, and three recommendation letters should be submitted to Yong.Feng@STJUDE.ORG.St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a world-class research institution dedicated to pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases of childhood. The first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Our 300 faculty work across the spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, and population science in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment that includes a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Medicine. St. Jude is ranked on Fortune Magazine’s “Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma” and Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work,” and is located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food and culture.We are in pursuit of the brightest minds in biomedical sciences, individuals poised to contribute to our research progress. Other than access to top-quality scientists and mentors, as a postdoctoral trainee at St. Jude, you will have:A Blend of Academic Freedom and Industrial Efficiency: Access to shared resources and facilities led by expert scientists, coupled with cutting-edge technology, accelerates research productivity.Customized Professional and Career Growth: Experience specifically designed programs to enhance professional growth and career readiness empowering postdocs for success beyond their training. This includes access to grant writing workshops, individual development plans, teaching and mentoring opportunities, non-research career advancement programs, professional development allowance, and so much more.Competitive Compensation: Embark on your journey with a competitive salary starting at $72,500 a year, comprehensive benefits and generous relocation assistance, reflecting our commitment to recognize and invest in talent.A Sense of Community: St. Jude fosters a vibrant postdoc community that supports a well-balanced life. A dynamic environment promotes connections and camaraderie among postdocs from all backgrounds.St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity EmployerNo Search FirmsSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.
Posted September 11, 2025
Faculty Position - Department of Immunology
SJCRHThe Department of Immunology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital invites applications for faculty positions at all levels (ASSISTANT, ASSOCIATE, or FULL Member). Under new leadership with a plan for significant expansion, we seek creative applicants with bold vision and demonstrated excellence in immunology research, including (but not limited to) the following areas: 1) fundamental immune cell biology (e.g., immunometabolism and structural immunology), 2) tissue immunity (e.g., tumor microenvironment and barrier tissue immunity), 3) organismal immunity (e.g., the crosstalk between the immune system and other organ systems), 4) systems and computational immunology, and/or 5) synthetic immunology and immuno-engineering. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a highly interactive environment offering its faculty a remarkable opportunity to perform groundbreaking independent and collaborative research. We provide long-term institutional support past the start-up period to facilitate innovation and discovery. St. Jude provides an impressive array of shared resources and core facilities to support research and discovery efforts across the institution. You will join a collaborative network of basic, translational, and clinical investigators conducting high-impact, interdisciplinary research. Excellent opportunities are available to translate the fundamental discoveries in immunological science into next-generation therapies for pediatric catastrophic diseases, as evidenced by the ongoing efforts to develop gene-edited CAR T cell therapies for pediatric cancer by integration and partnership with  St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center (SJCCC) and clinical departments. SJCCC, the first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center dedicated solely to children, has been recognized with the highest possible ranking of “exceptional” in its two most recent reviews by the NCI. You will also have access to excellent graduate students and teaching opportunities in St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, as well as the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). St. Jude is located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food, and culture. Mild winters and beautiful green outdoor spaces are among the reasons why Forbes recently named Memphis the 4th happiest city in which to work. Cost of living and high quality of life are other excellent attractions. St. Jude offers generous start-up packages, including full salary for faculty and support staff, equipment funds, and access to cutting-edge departmental and institutional shared resources. St. Jude is consistently highly ranked in the U.S. News Best Children’s Hospitals for Pediatric Cancer and in Fortune magazine’s list of 100 best places to work. Minimum Education Successful applicants must hold a PhD, MD and/or equivalent degree, have at least three years of relevant postgraduate experience, and have a proven track record of productivity. How to ApplyApplicants should submit the following items directly online:• Cover Letter• Curriculum Vitae• Statement of Research Accomplishments and Future Plans (2 to 4 pages)• Contact information for 3 referencesContact informationJoshua Roberts, Administrative DirectorDepartment of Immunologyjoshua.roberts@stjude.orgSt. Jude is an Equal Opportunity EmployerNo Search FirmsSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.
Posted August 18, 2025
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Immunology
Immunology postdoctoral positions are available in Dr. Hongbo Chi's laboratory in the Department of Immunology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.The Chi lab investigates immunobiology, immunometabolism and cancer immunology, by focusing on metabolic regulation of the immune system and the therapeutic impacts on cancer and other diseases. As metabolic pathways are inextricably connected to immunity and cancer, understanding these connections allows us to gain new insights into biological concepts and disease targets. We are particularly interested in investigating the metabolic programs (e.g. amino acid and lipid metabolism), signaling pathways (e.g. mTOR and nutrient signaling), and systems-level regulatory networks that regulate basic T cell and dendritic cell biology and antitumor immunity. To this end, we apply interdisciplinary strategies by integrating immunological and genetic approaches with cutting-edge systems immunology and functional genomics tools, including in vivo CRISPR screening, single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and network reconstruction. Former trainees of the Chi lab have been principal investigators in multiple academic institutions. Please also see the following articles published over the past four years for additional information: Cell 187:205 (2024); Nature 624:154 (2023); Nature 620:200 (2023); Nature  623:1034 (2023); Nature Reviews Immunology 23:363 (2023); Nature 607:135 (2022); Nature 600:308 (2021); Nature 595:724 (2021); Nature 591:306 (2021); Cell 184:1245 (2021); and Nature Reviews Immunology 20:55 (2020);St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ranked as a best children's hospital for pediatric cancer, offers an exceptional research and training environment with state-of-the-art facilities, along with competitive salaries and excellent benefits, to postdoctoral fellows. To find out more about our benefits for postdocs, check out this link.Highly motivated individuals with a recent Ph.D. in immunology or cell biology and publication records (minimum of one-first author publication in a peer-reviewed journal) are encouraged to apply for the open position (https://talent.stjude.org/postdoc/jobs/JR1859). St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity EmployerNo Search FirmsSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.

Contact us

Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti, PhD 

Department of Immunology
MS351
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
901-595-3634 Thirumala-Devi.Kanneganti@stjude.org
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
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