Zong Lab -

Zong Lab

To treat cancer effectively, Zong Lab has devoted great efforts to molecularly targeted therapy. While there have been many examples of success, cancer cells often develop drug resistance to evade therapy. To increase the efficacy of cancer therapy, Zong Lab–a part of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology (MIC)— uses a mouse genetic mosaic model termed MADM to study how tumor cells attack in vivo from the tumor-initiating stage and at the single-cell resolution.

Side by side image of microscopic images of green cells and blue cells

Cell of Origin and Disease

Identifying the cell(s) of origin should provide deep insights into leverage points for one to halt disease progression.

An Intricate TME Network

High-resolution analysis of medulloblastoma revealed that some tumor cells trans-differentiate into astrocytes, which in turn secrets IL4 to stimulate microglia to produce IGF1 that promotes tumor progression.

Microscopic image of green and red cells

Roles of p53 and NF 1 in Glioma

Malignant glioma is one of the deadliest types of cancer. Understanding how the cell origin progressively evolves toward malignancy could provide mechanistic insights and lead to novel concepts for tumor prevention and therapy.

Latest News

May 2023 – Ray’s hooding ceremony and goodbye party

April 2023 – Ray’s paper is accepted for publication at iScience (Cell Press)

February 2023 – welcome our lab’s newest graduate student, Elaina Ball

January 2023 – welcome our lab’s newest research scientist, Dr. Wenjie Liu

November 2022 – Hui’s collaborative Pew Innovative Award with Todd Stukenberg got funded

September 2022 – Hui’s collaborative NIH U54 grant with Kevin Janes and Todd Stukenberg got funded