Discover biomarkers and therapeutic targets for IBD-related intestinal fibrosis and C. difficile infection.Integrate multi-omics knowledge and find actionable pathways for diseases.Develop new target-based therapeutic strategies for intestinal fibrosis and CDI.Mentor postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate research students.

Innovative research to explore the novel approaches to diagnosis and treatment of intestinal fibrosis among inflammatory bowel disease patients.Develop orally active metabolite and microbiota formulations for C. difficile infection, obesity, and diabetes.Discover mechanisms of action of therapeutic agents for IBD, CDI, obesity, and diabetes.Mentor postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate research students.Collaborate with industry to evaluate efficacies and discover MOA for therapeutic agents.

Current employment responsibilities:• Conduct basic and clinical research to discover biomarkers, identify drug targets, and determine mechanisms of actions in intestinal fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, C. difficile infection, obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and colon cancer.• Collaborate with clinicians and to conduct clinical data analysis for discovering novel serum biomarkers in indicating inflammatory bowel disease activity, intestinal fibrosis, and diabetes.• Use machine learning to optimize the biomarker performance and diagnostic performance for indicating disease activity and predicting disease development.• Collaborate with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies (Merck, Biocodex, N8 Medical, ViThera, Artugen Therapeutics, and Kepler Diagnostics) to discover novel drugs and diagnostic methods.• Mentor and teach undergraduate students, medical students, and postdoctoral researchers. • Manage laboratories as a principal investigator and perform academic and administrative duties.• Perform experiments in the laboratories using cell culture, animal models, and human-derived models.• Establish a culture of effective communication and efficient operation in the laboratory and with other research groups.• Plan, coordinate and execute advanced multidisciplinary research, including signaling, immunology, systems biology, microbiome, and metabolomics.• Develop new projects and deliver results within budget and time limit. • Handle IACUC, biosafety, laboratory safety, and IRB protocols.• Present data in scientific meetings and report findings in journals.• Funded by NIH, CCF, Biocodex, Merck, Artugen Therapeutics, and Broad Foundation.

• Published in Gastroenterology and Gut regarding the anti-inflammatory properties of an innate immune molecule cathelicidin in IBD and C. difficile infection. • Published in International Journal of Obesity regarding the anti-obesity properties of cathelicidin in high-fat diet-treated mice and humans.• Discovered the cytoprotective mechanism of the Biocodex probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii against toxin-mediated cytoskeleton disruption and cell death. • Discovered the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Merck’s Fidaxomicin against C. difficile toxins. • Evaluated the toxin-neutralizing abilities of two of Merck’s anti-toxin antibodies using primary human cells and fresh colonic explants. • Developing a novel IBD biomarker with Kepler Diagnostics.• Filed patents.• Funded by NIH K01 grant.

• Demonstrated the role of SP in wound healing and aberrant wound healing, i.e. intestinal fibrosis. • Mastered cell culture, assays, histology, manuscript writing, report presentation, and grant applications. • Invited as a speaker to multiple meetings. • Published in PNAS, JBC, and Journal of Immunology• Funded by CCFA career development award.

• Demonstrated the roles of SP in mucosal healing and intestinal fibrosis. • Mastered cell culture, assays, histology, manuscript writing, report presentation, and grant applications. • Invited as a speaker to scientific meetings. • Published in PNAS, JBC, and Journal of Immunology.• Funded by CCFA research fellowship award and UCLA-CURE Pilot Feasibility Study grant.

• Demonstrated the role of SP in wound healing and aberrant wound healing, i.e. intestinal fibrosis. • Mastered cell culture, assays, histology, manuscript writing, report presentation, and grant applications. • Invited as a speaker to multiple meetings. • Published in PNAS, JBC, and Journal of ImmunologyRecipient of research fellowship of Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (2006-2008).