Ze Zhang, PhD, CRI-Irvington Postdoctoral Fellow University of Massachusetts Medical School Area of Research: All Cancers Dr. Ze Zhang is initiating a groundbreaking study to understand the NLRP1 inflammasome, a critical component of the innate immune system implicated in defending against infections and tackling tumors. Mutations in NLRP1 inflammasome have been linked to cancer, autoimmune disease, and severe infections like COVID-19. Dr. Zhang aims to unravel the activation mechanisms of NLRP1 and to identify potential therapeutic agents. By focusing on this inflammasome, he has developed an advanced screening platform to discover novel NLRP1 inhibitors, taking us one step closer to developing interventions for a range of diseases. The mission extends beyond discovery to understanding inhibitory mechanisms, testing their applicability, and paving the way for clinical interventions. Projects and Grants Discovery and characterization of a novel inhibitor of the NLRP1 Inflammasome
