The overarching research goal of the Zeng is to identify and define gut microbiome-regulated immune pathways during early development that impact the risk of inflammatory and infectious diseases, including cancer and infection. The Zeng laboratory utilizes innovative gnotobiotic mouse models and genetic knockout mice for studies of the development of the immune system and the crosstalk between immune cells and gut bacteria, particularly in early life. The Zeng lab has established a biobank of infant stool samples for translational studies that are built upon findings from preclinical animal models. We have the expertise to isolate and culture immune cells and bacteria from both mouse and human tissues for functional studies by integrating multi-disciplinary approaches to study the interactions between immune cells and gut commensal bacteria in various disease contexts, including gut inflammatory or infectious disease, cancer.

News:
https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2023/02/cancer-research-teams-awarded-grants-from-starr-cancer-consortium

https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2023/01/two-weill-cornell-medicine-faculty-recognized-with-aai-awards

https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2022/08/preclinical-study-suggests-gut-bacteria-may-influence-viral-entry-immune-response-and

https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2022/06/igg-antibodies-in-breast-milk-help-shape-infants%E2%80%99-gut-bacteria-and-immunity