Wai Kee Eddie Ip

Dr. Wai Kee Eddie Ip is an Assistant Professor of Immunology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He holds dual appointments as Senior Associate Consultant I-Research in the Department of Immunology and the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine. His research focuses on the metabolic regulation of innate immune cells, particularly macrophages, in the context of inflammation, immunity, and tissue homeostasis.

Dr. Ip’s research interests center on immunometabolism and innate immunity. His laboratory investigates how metabolic transporters and cellular metabolism regulate macrophage polarization and function, especially in intestinal tissue-resident macrophages. His work has significant implications for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and infectious diseases. He combines genetic, biochemical, and cell biological approaches to study host-pathogen interactions and immune regulation.

His recent publications (2015–2024) reflect a strong trend in immunometabolism, inflammasome biology, and macrophage reprogramming. Key themes include metabolic control of inflammation, phagosome function, epigenetic regulation by metabolites, and the role of osmolarity and lactate in immune responses. His work spans from basic mechanisms in cell biology to translational applications in cancer and gastrointestinal diseases.

Dr. Ip has collaborated with leading immunologists such as Ruslan Medzhitov and has published in top-tier journals including Science, Nature Communications, Cell, and Immunity. His early work focused on mannose-binding lectin and genetic polymorphisms in autoimmune and infectious diseases, laying the foundation for his current research in innate immune regulation.

He is actively leading a research laboratory at Mayo Clinic. His training includes a PhD in Immunology from the University of Hong Kong, postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School, and prior research experience at Yale University. He earned his BSc in Biochemistry from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.