Name: Zhi-Chuan Zhu PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow
BCBP Lab: Pengda Liu’s Lab
Years affiliated with BCBP: 4.5 years (January 2019–present)
What projects are you currently working on?
I have been focusing on immunity-dependent and independent function of STING in cancer progression since I came to UNC. In infectious diseases and cancers STING regulates type-I interferon signaling to modulate host immune response. My current projects are (1) studying the mechanism of STING degradation cooperated by E3 ligases and kinases in cancer cells and using corresponding inhibitors to enhance anticancer immune response; (2) understanding how members of E3 ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) regulate protein stability and agonist-induced activation of STING. If cell cycle affects STING activity.
What was your background before coming to BCBP (UNC)?
My major is cancer biology since I got into graduate school. My PhD dissertation focused on the molecular and cellular basis of gliomagenesis and identified the function of glioblastoma-associated onco-proteins. After graduation I worked as a postdoctoral fellow in 2015-2018 in Institute of Neuroscience in Chinese Academy of Sciences, where I studied targeting nuclear transport proteins KPNB1 and XPO1 to drive cancer cell death, elaborating associated molecular mechanisms and developing combination therapies.
What motivates you to do what you do?
I think the style of doing research is similar to that of criminal investigation in detective stories. Proposing ideas, searching information, gathering useful knowledge and methods, restoring pieces of truths and writing the result and conclusion parts of the manuscript are self-motivated and thrilling. Any delightful discovery in the project stimulates the reward circuit in my brain letting me feel the pleasure of research work, which drives continuous learning and practicing. I am even happier to realize truths are far beyond expectation.
What have been some of your best experiences with BCBP (UNC)?
Current scientific research requires complexity and multi-discipline collaboration. Here, people learn from each other’s strengths and make up for their weaknesses through various means. Most of the people I meet are willing to share opinions and suggestions without reservation or impatience. It is their cooperation in experiments ensures strategic planning, efficient progression and professional production. I have had a pleasant collaboration with many research groups and core facilities.
Do you have any advice for current or future trainees at BCBP (UNC)?
The process of conducting scientific research is undoubtedly fraught with difficulties. While maintaining optimism and curiosity, we should exert our subjective initiative, communicate and collaborate with professionals, try various theoretically feasible approaches, and find the final solution through continuous trial and error. In the era of information explosion, we also need to update knowledge and accepting new theories all the time. Do not be limited by existing knowledge and experience.
What are your favorite activities outside of the lab?
I like travelling and have been to many places of historic interest and scenic beauty in the US. I like reading history books and detective novels. Every year I plant different kinds of vegetables on the sundeck (in Shanghai) or in the backyard (in Chapel Hill) and learn how to take care of them in order to have good harvest.