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
- 2009-2014: MB, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Post-Graduate Training
- 2020-2023: Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- 2015-2020: PhD, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
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
- 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. - CALR-ifying ATF6/BCL-xL activation by type 2 CALR mutations
He F, Oh ST. Blood. 2025 Aug 21;146(8):907-908. PubMed PMID: 40839254. - 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. - RSK1 dependency in FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia
Kong T, Laranjeira ABA, Letson CT, Yu L, He F, Jayanthan A, Los G, Dunn SE, Challen GA, Oh ST. Blood Cancer J. 2024 Nov 26;14(1):207. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11599852. - Inhibition of ovarian cancer cell proliferation by Pien Tze Huang via the AKT-mTOR pathway
He F, Wu HN, Cai MY, Li CP, Zhang X, Wan Q, Tang SB, Cheng JD. Oncol Lett. 2014 Jun;7(6):2047-2052. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4049676.