Education:
2006-2010 B.Sc. Nanchang University, China
2010-2015 Ph.D. School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, China
Professional Positions:
2015-2020 Postdoctoral Associate, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, USA
2020-2022 Instructor, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, USA
2022-2025 Assistant Professor, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2025-now Associate professor, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Research Areas:
The Chu Laboratory strives to understand the interactions between the microbiota, the immune system, and the nervous system. We are tremendously excited to discover previously unrecognized crosstalk, to unveil the underlying molecular mechanisms, and to help develop the next generation of preventative, therapeutic, or curative treatment strategies.
We define our own success by the personal and career development of team members, the promotion of diversity and equity, and ultimately by the outcomes of patients suffering worldwide from inflammatory (including allergic, infectious, and autoimmune) diseases.
Honors and Awards:
➢ 2023 Chinese Society for Cell Biology Career Development Fund for Young Female Scientists
➢ 2022 National Natural Science Fund for Excellent Young Scientists Fund Program (Overseas)
➢ 2022 Beijing Society of Immunology Young Scholar Award
➢ 2022 Beijing Association for Science and Technology Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program
➢ 2021 Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, Young Investigator Award
Selected Publications:
1. Liu RE, Chu C#, Qi H# (2025). Into the Spotlight: Microglia in the Peripheral Nervous System. Neuroscience Bulletin, 1-4.
2. Wang YS, Zhang XY, Liu SR, Gu ZJ, Sun ZJ, Zang Y, Huang XB, Wang Y, Wang Q, Lin QX, Liu RC, Sun SH, Xu HK, Wang JL, Wu T, Wang Y, Li Y, Li H, Tang ZR, Qu YF, Wu L, Hu XY, Guo XH, Wang F, Zhou L, He DY, Qi H, Xu HP#, Chu C# (2025). Bi-directional neuro-immune communication regulates host defense against helminth infection. Immunity, 58 (2): 456-480.
3. Huang XB, Ao ST, Xu R, Gao XM, Qi SL, Liang YR, Feng PY, Xue RZ, Ren YY, Han JD, Li FX, Chu C#, Wang F# (2025). Sensory neuroimmune signaling in the pathogenesis of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 155 (2): 533-546.
4. Liu RC, Shao WH, Xu J#, Chu C# (2023). To be or not to be direct: the role of neuromedin U in neuro-eosinophil crosstalk. Science Bulletin, (23).
5. Chu C, Parkhurst CN, Zhang W, Zhou L, Yano H, Arifuzzaman M, Artis D (2021). The ChAT-acetylcholine pathway promotes group 2 innate lymphoid cell responses and anti-helminth immunity. Science immunology, 6(57): eabe3218.
6. Chu C, Artis D, Chiu IM (2020). Neuro-immune interactions in the tissues. Immunity, 52(3): 464-474.
7. Chu C, Murdock MH, Jing D, Won TH, Chung H, Kressel AM, Tsaava T, Addorisio ME, Putzel GG, Zhou L, Bessman NJ, Yang R, Moriyama S, Parkhurst CN, Li A, Meyer HC, Teng F, Chavan SS, Tracey KJ, Regev A, Schroeder FC, Lee FS, Liston C, Artis D (2019). The intestinal microbiota regulate neuronal function and fear extinction learning. Nature, 574(7779): 543-548.
8. Zhou L, Chu C, Teng F, Bessman NJ, Goc J, Santosa EK, Putzel GG, Kabata H, Kelsen JR, Baldassano RN, Shah MA, Sockolow RE, Vivier E, Eberl G, Smith KA, Sonnenberg GF (2019). Innate lymphoid cells support regulatory T cells in the intestine through interleukin-2. Nature, 568(7752): 405-409.
9. Chu C*, Moriyama S*, Li Z, Zhou L, Flamar AL, Klose CSN, Moeller JB, Putzel GG, Withers DR, Sonnenberg GF, Artis D (2018). Anti-microbial functions of group 3 innate lymphoid cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues are regulated by G-protein-coupled receptor 183. Cell reports, 23(13): 3750-3758.
10. Chu C, Wang Y, Zhang X, Ni X, Cao J, Xu W, Dong Z, Yuan P, Wei W, Ma Y, Zhang L, Wu L, Qi H (2014). SAP-regulated T Cell-APC adhesion and ligation-dependent and -independent Ly108-CD3ζ interactions. Journal of Immunology, 193(8): 3860-3871.
