03/20/2024: Dr. Zhu is invited to participate in the NIH study section: Topics in Infection and Immunity.
03/06/2024: The published paper, "An FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission" in Nature Communications, has been rated the top 25 most readable COVID-19 articles in 2023, www.nature.com/collections/gjajjhfcha
The paper is also collected into "Next Generation of Vaccines for Infectious
Diseases", www.nature.com/collections/fefjhhibhg
The paper is also collected into "Next Generation of Vaccines for Infectious
Diseases", www.nature.com/collections/fefjhhibhg
11/06/2023: Zhu lab published a paper entitled "An FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission" in Nature Communications, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-42796-0
https://agnr.umd.edu/news/umd-researchers-developed-nasal-vaccine-prevents-covid-preclinical-studies |
02/09/2023: Zhu Lab submitted two nonprovisional applications to the US Patent and Trademark Office:
US2022/0098242A1, Compositions and Methods for mucosal vaccination against SARS-CoV-2
PCT/US2023/012712, Compositions and Methods for FcRn-Targeted Intranasal Coronavirus Vaccination
US2022/0098242A1, Compositions and Methods for mucosal vaccination against SARS-CoV-2
PCT/US2023/012712, Compositions and Methods for FcRn-Targeted Intranasal Coronavirus Vaccination
2022/2023: Zhu Lab recently received three patents from the US Patent and Trademark Office:
US11376317B2, FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccination against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
US20190359655, FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccination against influenza infections.
US20230181723, FcRn-targeted therapeutics for the treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune and albumin-mediated diseases.
US11376317B2, FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccination against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
US20190359655, FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccination against influenza infections.
US20230181723, FcRn-targeted therapeutics for the treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune and albumin-mediated diseases.
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11/24/2022: Zhu Lab submitted a COVID nasal vaccine manuscript for peer review.
Li W, Wang T, Rajendrakumar AM, Acharya G, Miao Z, Varghese BP, Yu H, Dhakal B, LeRoith T, Tuo W, Zhu X. An FcRn-targeted mucosal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2022 Nov 24:2022.11.23.517678. DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.23.517678. PMID: 36451890; PMCID: PMC9709799. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.23.517678v1 |
09/14/2022: Zhu Lab protein-based COVID nasal vaccine research is featured in Maryland Today, and Terp Magazine, Enterprise, University of Maryland.
today.umd.edu/umd-researcher-develops-nasal-covid-vaccine
https://terp.umd.edu/right-in-the-nose
https://issuu.com/umaryland/docs/02_enterprise23_text_cc23_rev1?fr=sZjgwZTQ2MzkxOTM
today.umd.edu/umd-researcher-develops-nasal-covid-vaccine
https://terp.umd.edu/right-in-the-nose
https://issuu.com/umaryland/docs/02_enterprise23_text_cc23_rev1?fr=sZjgwZTQ2MzkxOTM
08/17/2022: Zhu Lab COVID nasal vaccine research is featured in the Momentum Magazine, AGNR, University of Maryland.
view.publitas.com/agnr-university-of-maryland/momentum-magazine-summer-2022/page/20-21
view.publitas.com/agnr-university-of-maryland/momentum-magazine-summer-2022/page/20-21
05/03/2022: Zhu Lab is awarded for the Invention of Year by the UM Venture, the University of Maryland, for developing protein based nasal-spray COVID-19 vaccine.
https://research.umd.edu/articles/inventions-year-researchers-develop-mucosal-covid-19-vaccine-block-community-transmission
https://research.umd.edu/articles/inventions-year-researchers-develop-mucosal-covid-19-vaccine-block-community-transmission
11/17/2021: Dr. Zhu is invited to participate in NIH special emphasis grant review pane focusing on immunity and host defense.
04/22/2021: Dr. Zhu is invited to chair a NIH NIAID grant review study section, Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) on Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine Development P01 Program Projects.
03/01/2021: Dr. Zhu is invited to participate in NIH NIAID Immunity and Host Defense study section for the respiratory infections, particularly focusing on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
12/08/2020: Dr. Zhu is invited to participate in NIH NIAID special study section for the Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
04/22/2021: Dr. Zhu is invited to chair a NIH NIAID grant review study section, Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) on Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine Development P01 Program Projects.
03/01/2021: Dr. Zhu is invited to participate in NIH NIAID Immunity and Host Defense study section for the respiratory infections, particularly focusing on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
12/08/2020: Dr. Zhu is invited to participate in NIH NIAID special study section for the Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
01/20/2020: Zhu lab started to develop a nasal spray vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections. The efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccine is being tested in small animal models, such as human ACE-2 transgenic mouse, hamster, and ferret.
Later, the laboratory is also interested in understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2.
Later, the laboratory is also interested in understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2.
12/4/2019: Dr. Zhu is invited to present his research as a keynote speaker in the World Vaccine & Immunotherapy Congress in San Francisco, CA. His seminar title, "Mucosal Delivery of Universal Flu Vaccine Antigens in Animal Models".
6/5/2019: Congrats! Dr. Xiaoyang Liu and other co-authors.
- Liu X, Palaniyandi S, Zhu I, Tang J, Li W, Wu X, Park-Ochsner S, Pauza CD, Cohen JI, Zhu X. Human cytomegalovirus evades antibody-mediated immunity through the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of the FcRn receptor. Nature Communications. 2019; 10, 3020.
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10865-y
- https://today.umd.edu/articles/researchers-virus-discovery-could-help-fight-autoimmune-disease- 356f4512-8b4d-44c1-977c-0e65eaf17ca7
- https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-07/uom-opn070819.php
- https://www.genengnews.com/news/cytomegalovirus-immune-evasion-tactics-uncovered/
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5/14/2019: Zhu lab receives an NIH R01 grant that will test mucosal delivery of conserved antigens of influenza virus A and further examine their efficacy of protection or cross protection against virus antigenically similar or different subtypes of influenza A virus. The underlying mechanism for protection and cross-protection will be further examined. The knowledge gained from this study will be useful in development an effective mucosal vaccination strategy for influenza infections in humans and animals, which is highly relevant to public health.
http://classifieds.usatoday.com/press/umd-joins-the-race-to-create-a-universal-flu-vaccine-with-a-patented-innovative-delivery-technique/
http://classifieds.usatoday.com/press/umd-joins-the-race-to-create-a-universal-flu-vaccine-with-a-patented-innovative-delivery-technique/
1/6/2019: Dr. Zhu is named associate dean of Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Maryland campus (https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2019/02/vetmed-zhu-appointment.html)
7/16/2018: Dr. Zhu is invited to chair a workshop, Viral Interference with Host Defense, in the 37th American Society for Virology.
6/4/2018: Dr. Weizhong Li is promoted to the Assistant Research Professor. Congratulations for Dr. Li. His research interest is focusing on developing the novel strategies of mucosal vaccination against respiratory infections by respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus.
5/19/2018: Congrats! Xiaoyang Liu has successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis, Viral Immune Evasion of FcRn Functions, at the Department of Veterinary Medicine. Xiaoyang will continue his postdoctoral training.gXiaoyang was a PhD candidate in the VMSC graduate training program in the University of Maryland. He received his B.S. degree from the Shanxi Agricultural University in 2009 and his MS degree from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2012.
5/10/2018: Using the multiple PI mechanisms, Dr. Edmund Gosselin and Dr. Zhu receive an NIH grant that will develop an adjuvant-free mucosal vaccine platform. This study will also be tested using a highly significant infectious disease model. Most importantly, this work will lay the foundation for future testing and clinical development of this vaccine platform and its eventual use against an array of current, emerging, and re-emerging pathogens.
4/4/2018: Dr. Zhu is invited to present his research as a Keynote Speaker in the World Vaccine Congress in Washington DC. His seminar is entitled "Harnessing Innate and Adaptive Immunity for Mucosal Vaccine Development".
3/19/2018: Dr. Weizhong Li in Zhu Lab received a Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) Phase I & II program grant from the Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) in Maryland. This grant aims to develop a novel mucosal vaccine against infections by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The MII award is given through the innovation commercialization program, which provides funding to support the commercialization of qualified university technology at two distinct stages: pre-commercial technology validation and commercialization planning (Phase I & 2), and early-stage product development (Phase III).
1/3/2018: Congrats! Susan Park Ochsner has successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis, Mucosal delivery of influenza vaccine antigens, at the Department of Veterinary Medicine. Susan will continue her postdoctoral training in viral immunology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Susan was a PhD candidate in the Biological Science (BISI) graduate training program focusing on molecular and cellular biology. She received her B.A. degree from the Johns Hopkins University.
12/19/2017: Zhu lab receives an NIH grant to understand how human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) evades functions of MHC class I-related molecules. HCMV is the leading viral cause of congenital birth defects and cause severe diseases in the immunocompromised patients and organ transplanted recipients. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which HCMV impairs functions of MHC class-related molecules may discover a novel mechanism of virus immune evasion and add new knowledge on viral parthenogenesis, immune therapy, passive immunization, and vaccine development.
12/14/2017: Zhu lab receives a seed research grant from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine to develop a novel immune therapeutic strategy against lupus. This study will collaborate with Dr. Xin Luo in the Virginia Tech. The seed research grant facilitates faculty to submit the competitive research grant through research collaborations between two universities.
10/25/2017: Zhu lab receives a research grant from Leidos Inc in Maryland to test a novel adjuvant in enhancing mucosal vaccination against influenza infection. Leidos collaborates with partners to address urgent and important issues in biomedical research to discover, innovate, and improve human health.
09/07/2017: Using the multiple PI mechanisms, Dr. Shaik Rahaman and Dr. Zhu receive an NIH R01 grant for the role of TRPV4 mechanotransduction in foreign body response (2017-2021). The laboratories of Dr. Rahaman and Dr. Zhu will work together to study the molecular mechanisms of the fibrotic response to implantable tissues that lead to the development of a foreign body response to determining the role of themechanosensor. The impact of these studies will generate novel information and insight regarding the mechanisms mediating the foreign body response to the implanted biomaterials, and will potentially identify a targetable receptor/pathway for the amelioration of foreign body response. This study would benefit and improve the human health.
06/15/2017: Dr. Zhu was invited to give a seminar discussing the applications of FcRn technology in immunotherapy and vaccine development.
- 02/01/2017: Zhu lab receives the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program grant to advance development of an influenza mucosal vaccine. MIPS promotes the development and commercialization of products and processes through industry/university research partnerships.