Address:
- Room 8836 Clinical Sciences Research Building (office mail stop)
Research Interest: Hematologic malignancies (MPN, MDS, and AML); Inflammation; Thrombosis
Research: My research focuses on defining the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive chronic inflammation, thrombosis, and disease progression in myeloid malignancies, with the goal of identifying actionable therapeutic vulnerabilities. By integrating mechanistic biology, systems-level multi-omics, and translational studies, I investigate how inflammatory signaling and other disease-associated pathways contribute to the development and progression of hematologic malignancies. My recent work has identified Galectin-1 as a novel ligand for TLR4 that promotes monocyte-driven hyperinflammation in myeloproliferative neoplasms and has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway in primary patient samples. Building on these findings, I am exploring innovative approaches to selectively target pathogenic signaling pathways and disease-associated proteins. My long-term research program seeks to translate mechanistic discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies that improve outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies.
Biosketch
Education
- 2015-2020: PhD, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
- 2009-2014: MB, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Post-Graduate Training
- 2020-2023: Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Academic Positions
- 2024-present: Instructor, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- 2023-2024: Staff Scientist, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Honors & Awards
- 2026: Emerging Investigator Award, 4th Annual Myeloid Malignancy Workshop
- 2026 – 2029: EvansMDS Young Investigator Award ($450,000), Edward P. Evans Foundation
- 2025 – 2027: ASH Scholar Award ($100,000), American Society of Hematology
- 2024: Invited Speaker (Abstract Achievement Award), 66th Annual Meeting of American Society of Hematology
- 2024: Siteman Trainee Travel Award, Siteman Cancer Center
- 2024: Dr. Evan Sadler Travel Award, Washington University School of Medicine
- 2023: Dr. George Broze Research Award, Washington University School of Medicine
- 2022: Invited Speaker (Abstract Achievement Award), 64th Annual Meeting of American Society of Hematology
- 2022: Dr. Philip W. Majerus Fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine
- 2022: Dr. Evan Sadler Travel Award, Washington University School of Medicine
Selected Publications
- Galectin-1 Fuels Monocyte Hyperinflammation and Represents a Novel Therapeutic Target in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
He F, Lin S, Kong T, Fisher DAC, Kim AB, Ramesh V, Brakhane M, Letson CT, Grodzielski M, Cox MJ, Fulbright MC, Xiong Y, Yu L, Yu Y, Ashworth KJ, Siner J, Engeler A, Laranjeira ABA, Sykes SM, Di Paola J, Oh ST.Blood. 2026 Jun 23; PubMed PMID: 42345360 - A proteogenomic gene signature defines prognostic subgroups highlighting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway as a therapeutic vulnerability in myeloid malignancies
He F, Lin S, Gao B, Ramesh V, Kim AB, Kong T, Fisher DAC, Letson CT, Brakhane M, Fulbright M, Yu Y, Sardiello M, Di Paola J, Sykes SM, Oh ST.
Cell Commun Signal. 2025 Dec 16;24(1):61. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12853910 - Multiomic profiling reveals metabolic alterations mediating aberrant platelet activity and inflammation in myeloproliferative neoplasms
He F, Laranjeira AB, Kong T, Lin S, Ashworth KJ, Liu A, Lasky NM, Fisher DA, Cox MJ, Fulbright MC, Antunes-Heck L, Yu L, Brakhane M, Gao B, Sykes SM, D’Alessandro A, Di Paola J, Oh ST. J Clin Invest. 2024 Feb 1;134(3). PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10836808 - Interaction between p53 N terminus and core domain regulates specific and nonspecific DNA binding
He F, Borcherds W, Song T, Wei X, Das M, Chen L, Daughdrill GW, Chen J.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Apr 30;116(18):8859-8868. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6500136 - RSK1 is an exploitable dependency in myeloproliferative neoplasms and secondary acute myeloid leukemia
Kong T, Laranjeira ABA, Letson CT, Yu L, Lin S, Fowles JS, Fisher DAC, Ng S, Yang W, He F, Youn M, Mark K, Jose AS, Liu J, Kim AB, Cox MJ, Fulbright MC, Jayanthan A, Los G, Rentschler SL, Ding L, Sakamoto KM, Dunn SE, Challen GA, Oh ST.
Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 16;16(1):492. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11739599