Johnny J. He

Dr. Johnny J. He serves as Professor and Discipline Chair of Microbiology and Immunology at the Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, while directing the Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology, and Infection. His career spans Indiana University School of Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, and RFUMS since 2020.

Trained with MS/PhD from New York University and postdoctoral work at Rockefeller University and Harvard Medical School, Dr. He's research bridges virology, immunology, and cancer biology. His work focuses on HIV-astrocyte interactions, Tat-mediated neurotoxicity mechanisms, and Tip110's role in tumorigenesis. He pioneered the inducible Tat transgenic mouse model (iTat) for neuroAIDS research and established Tip110 as a master regulator of cellular processes critical for cancer stem cell biology.

His publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals spanning neurovirology (HIV latency in astrocytes, Tat-induced epigenetic changes), cancer biology (Tip110 in melanoma metastasis), and molecular mechanisms (microRNA regulation, protein interactions). Recent work integrates aging pathways with HIV neuropathology and explores redox signaling in transcriptional control.

Dr. He actively contributes to biomedical workforce development through diversity initiatives like the IMSD Predoctoral Program. His laboratory provides a collaborative environment for studying host-pathogen interactions and cancer mechanisms, with strong emphasis on translational applications for therapeutic development in HIV and oncology.