Jorge Henao-Mejia

Jorge Henao-Mejia is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where he leads research at the Institute for Immunology. His work bridges immunology, microbiome science, and molecular genetics to address fundamental mechanisms of disease.

His educational background includes:

• M.D. in Medicine from the University of Antioquia, Colombia (2005)
• Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Indiana University (2009)

Dr. Henao-Mejia's research centers on non-coding RNA regulation and inflammasome biology, with emphasis on how these systems govern immune cell development, host-microbe interactions, and metabolic disease. His laboratory has pioneered discoveries linking long non-coding RNAs like Morrbid to myeloid cell lifespan and connecting NLRP6 inflammasomes to gut mucus secretion and microbial ecology. This work reveals critical pathways in inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and NAFLD progression.

Analysis of his publications shows consistent focus on molecular-immune crosstalk, particularly how non-coding RNAs and inflammasomes serve as regulatory hubs between host physiology and microbiome dynamics. Key themes include RNA-mediated control of immune cell metabolism, inflammasome-dependent microbiome modulation, and therapeutic implications for metabolic and inflammatory disorders.

His major recognitions include:

• PEW Biomedical Scholar (2017-2021)
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator Award (2018-2023)
• Esther L. Kinsley Dissertation Award (2009)
• Young Investigator Award at Retroviruses Conference (2009)

His research is supported by prestigious grants including the PEW and Burroughs Wellcome awards, enabling high-impact studies using CRISPR genome editing and advanced mouse models. He mentors trainees in immunology while leading collaborative projects across microbiome and metabolic disease research communities.

Based at the Perelman School of Medicine's Institute for Immunology, his laboratory integrates genomic, biochemical, and in vivo approaches to dissect immune regulation mechanisms with translational relevance to cancer, infectious disease, and chronic inflammation.