Yuan He

Dr. Yuan He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He joined the faculty in 2017 after completing his Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan.

Education

• 1998 – B.S. in Biology, Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China
• 2011 – Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
• 2011–2017 – Postdoctoral Fellowship in Immunology, University of Michigan, MI, USA

Research Interests

Dr. He’s laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms governing innate immunity, with a particular emphasis on the NLRP3 inflammasome. His work spans:

• Signal transduction pathways that regulate inflammasome activation
• Host–pathogen interactions and danger signal recognition
• Inflammatory cytokine maturation (IL-1β, IL-18)
• Translational strategies targeting inflammasomes for infectious and inflammatory diseases

His immediate goal is to decipher how the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated during innate immune responses, while his long-term vision is to leverage these insights to develop novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders.

Publication Trends

Across 15 recent publications (2013–2022), Dr. He has consistently advanced the understanding of inflammasome biology, dissecting both structural determinants (e.g., NEK7/NEK6 specificity, RACK1 adaptor) and functional outcomes (pyroptosis, cytokine release). A clear trajectory emerges from foundational mechanism studies in macrophages and dendritic cells to translational applications in neurodegeneration, highlighting a commitment to bridging basic science and clinical relevance.

Scientific Awards

• NIH R01 Award (May 2020 – April 2025)
• NIH K22 Research Career Development Award (July 2017 – July 2019)

Teaching & Mentoring

Dr. He is actively engaged in graduate education, currently offering:

• IM7040 – Fundamentals of Research
• IM7010 – Fundamentals of Immunology
• IBS7090 – Biomedical Immunology

He is accepting new M.S. and Ph.D. students for 2024 admission in both the Immunology & Microbiology (IM) and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) programs.

Laboratory & Location

His research group is housed in Scott Hall, Room 7215, providing state-of-the-art facilities for molecular immunology, live-cell imaging, and animal models of inflammation.