Prof. LIU Zhanju from Tongji University visited IHB on September 23, 2024 to exchange research insights.(Credit: IHB)

Prof. LIU Zhanju from Tongji University visited the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on September 23, 2024 to exchange research insights. As part of IHB’s Innovation Lecture Series (22nd session of 2024), Prof. Liu presented a lecture titled “Role of Myeloid Cells in the Development of Intestinal Inflammation.”

Myeloid cells—including neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages—are key components of the innate immune system, playing crucial roles in immune defense and the development of inflammatory diseases. These cells originate from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow and contribute to maintaining intestinal immune barriers while eliminating pathogens.

In his lecture, Prof. Liu provided an in-depth analysis of how myeloid cells regulate immune responses during intestinal inflammation. He discussed their involvement in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Professor Liu also shared key findings from his team’s research, which included GWAS Analysis, Mouse Models, and Metabolomics. These studies provide new avenues for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs and targeted immunotherapies.

Prof. YE Mei from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University also participated in the academic exchange.

Prof. Liu is a distinguished professor, doctoral advisor, and director of the IBD Research Center at Tongji University Medical School. He received his MD from KU Leuven in Belgium and conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

Prof. Liu is actively involved in international and national organizations, serving as the president of the Asian Organization for Crohn’s and Colitis (AOCC) and deputy head of the Biosample and Translational Collaboration Group under the Chinese Society of Gastroenterology. He is also a standing committee member of the Digestive System Diseases Committee of the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine.