Prof. Song Guo Zheng | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award
Chair Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine | China
Prof. Song Guo Zheng, M.D., Ph.D., is an internationally renowned immunologist and clinician-scientist specializing in rheumatology, molecular immunology, and translational medicine. He currently serves as Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Cell and Gene Therapy at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. With academic leadership roles across prestigious institutions in the U.S. and China, his pioneering work spans autoimmunity, cell therapy, and immunoregulation. A prolific author with over 110 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals, Prof. Zheng is also a highly decorated researcher and active leader in global immunology societies. His contributions continue to shape modern immunotherapy and precision medicine.
Publication Profile
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Education
Prof. Zheng earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology from the University of Orleans, France (2011), and a Master’s in Pathology and Immunology from Shanghai Medical University (1992). He completed his M.D. at Anhui Medical University (1984). His clinical training included a residency in surgery at Chizhou City Hospital (1984–1989) and an internship at Shanghai Zhabei Hospital (1983–1984). He further pursued a pathology fellowship at Shanghai Medical University Cancer Hospital (1989–1993). These academic and clinical foundations laid the groundwork for a distinguished career in immunology, clinical research, and translational medicine across both China and the United States.
Experience
Prof. Zheng currently serves as Chair Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Dean of the School of Cell and Gene Therapy (2023–Present). He previously held senior positions including the Ronald L. Whisler Chair in Rheumatology and Immunology at Ohio State University (2018–2022) and Director at Penn State University’s College of Medicine (2013–2018). His U.S. academic journey began at the University of Southern California as an assistant and associate professor (2004–2013), after postdoctoral work at USC and UCLA. With leadership in research, teaching, and clinical science, he has become a global authority in immunological therapeutics and rheumatology.
Awards
Prof. Zheng has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Outstanding Scientist Award (2023, USA) and the Distinguished Clinical Immunologist Award (2019, China). He was awarded the Edmund L. Dubois Award (2019), NIH STAR Award (2016–2021), and was Chair of NIH MOSS Study Section (2016). Notably, he earned the James R. Klinenberg Award for best immunologist in Southern California (2007) and the Freda Newton Memorial Scholar Award (2006). He is an elected member of The Henry Kunkel Society (2012) and a recipient of the ACR Investigator Award (2008–2010), reflecting his impactful and sustained contributions to clinical immunology.
Research Focus
Prof. Zheng’s research centers on molecular immunology, particularly in autoimmune diseases, Treg/Th17 cell modulation, and immune tolerance mechanisms. He investigates immunometabolism, gene and cell therapy, and inflammatory signaling pathways with an emphasis on clinical translation. His studies on cytokines, nanomedicine, and immune checkpoint regulation aim to advance precision therapeutics for rheumatic and inflammatory diseases. He integrates cutting-edge techniques including single-cell sequencing, CRISPR-based modulation, and nano-drug delivery systems. His innovative research is highly cited and supports next-generation treatments for autoimmunity, cancer immunotherapy, and organ-specific inflammation, shaping global trends in immune-based medical interventions.
Publication Top Notes
Natural and induced CD4+ CD25+ cells educate CD4+ CD25− cells to develop suppressive activity: the role of IL-2, TGF-β, and IL-10
IL-2 is essential for TGF-β to convert naive CD4+ CD25− cells to CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and for expansion of these cells
Role of vitamin A in the immune system
Generation ex vivo of TGF-β-producing regulatory T cells from CD4+ CD25− precursors
Vitamin D and chronic diseases
TGF-β requires CTLA-4 early after T cell activation to induce FoxP3 and generate adaptive CD4+ CD25+ regulatory cells
Natural and TGF-β–induced Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells are not mirror images of each other
Role of TNF–TNF receptor 2 signal in regulatory T cells and its therapeutic implications
Cutting edge: Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells induced by IL-2 and TGF-β are resistant to Th17 conversion by IL-6
Hall of fame among pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin-6 gene and its transcriptional regulation mechanisms
The ubiquitin ligase Stub1 negatively modulates regulatory T cell suppressive activity by promoting degradation of the transcription factor Foxp3
The role of the combination of IL-2 and TGF-β or IL-10 in the generation and function of CD4+ CD25+ and CD8+regulatory T cell subsets
Conclusion