More about the Hu group
Introduction
Who we are:
Our research group was established in 2018 in the Department of Chemistry at UIC. Our core expertise integrates fluorescence single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy with immunobiology. We are broadly interested in uncovering how structures and interactions occurring at the nanoscale affect immune cell functions. Through advanced imaging techniques and nanotechnology, we aim to uncover new mechanisms invisible to conventional biochemical or fluorescence microscopy techniques.
What we do:
We are a highly interdisciplinary team with a translational focus on cell- and antibody-based immunotherapies and hematological malignancies. Within Chemistry, we collaborate with bioanalytical and biophysical, chemical biology and drug discovery, and materials and nanoscience. Within UIC, we have strong collaborations with Pharmaceutical Sciences on nanomedicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics on molecular and cell biology, Biomedical Engineering on bioimaging, Pathology and Hematology and Oncology on T cell lymphoma and T cell-based immunotherapies, and the University of Illinois Cancer Center on cancer immunology. Beyond UIC, we collaborate with physician-scientists specializing in hematology-oncology at the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago.
How we do it:
We are the only laboratory within the department that houses three super-resolution systems: the Nikon N-STORM, achieving 10-20 nm spatial resolution, the CrestOptics DeepSIM for live and volumetric super-resolution imaging, and Nikon Spatial Array Confocal (NSPARC) with its ultra-fast and ultra-low noise live super-resolution capability. The NSPARC system is co-administered with the Ondrus lab. The lab also houses two total-internal-reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy set-ups for single-molecule imaging and single-particle tracking.
Our group members master techniques in single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy (cell preparation, data acquisition, and analysis), immunofluorescence staining of conventional and challenging targets (i.e., cytokines and extracellular vesicles), molecular cloning and biochemical assays, T cell handling and manipulation, flow cytometry, and become well-versed in the immunobiology and immunotherapy research.
For professional societies, our group is part of the Biophysical Society (BPS), American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), American Association of Immunologists (AAI), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and American Society of Hematology (ASH). We attend the annual meetings of these professional societies, as well as the Gordon Research Conferences, and ACS meetings.
What we value:
Trainee-centered mentoring — we prioritize individualized plans to support each trainee’s unique path to growth and success. Our trainees advance to careers across academia, industry, and the government.
Scientific integrity and respect — we uphold scientific rigor while fostering curiosity, flexibility, collegiality, and transparency in our research. Our trainees learn languages across chemistry, biophysics, bioimaging, and immunobiology.
Team science — we learn and share success as a team.