Education:

1982, B.Sc., Peking University;

1985, M.Sc., Peking University;

1990, Ph.D., University Libre de Bruxelles;

Professional Experience

1987-1992, Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas;

1992-1993, Research Associate, Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute;

1993-1996, Assistant Member, Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute;

1996-2004, Associate Professor, Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute;

2004-2011, Professor, Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute; 

2002-2007, Adj. Professor, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University;

2007-Present, Professor, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University.

Research Area

Our research interests are the molecular mechanisms in stress responses including inflammation and inflammation related diseases. Specifically, we are interested in:

1. The relationship between stress responses and cell differentiation, senescence and death.

2. The relationship between stress responses and malignancy.

3. The relationship between stress responses and metabolic pathways.

4. The functions of stress response pathways in septic shock, atherosclerosis, colitis and other inflammation related disease.

Selected Publications

1. Chen X, Zhu R,  Zhong J, Ying Y, Wang W, Cao Y, Cai H, Li X, Shuai J, Han J. Mosaic composition of RIP1-RIP3 signalling hub and its role in regulating cell death. Nat Cell Biol. 2022 Apr;24(4):471-482
2. Zhang P, Liu Y, Hu L, Huang K, Hong M, Wang Y, Fan X, Richard J. Ulevitch, Han J. NLRC4 inflammasome-dependent cell death occurs by a complementary series of three death pathways and determines lethality in mice. Sci Adv. 2021 Oct 22. 7(43): eabi9471
3. Yang Z, Wu X, He P, Wang X, Wu J, Ai T, Zhong C, Wu X, Cong Y, Zhu R, Li H, Cai ZY, Mo W, Han J. A Non-canonical PDK1-RSK Signal Diminishes Pro-caspase-8-Mediated Necroptosis Blockade. Mol Cell. 2020 Oct 15; 80(2):296-310
4. Wang R, Li H, Wu J, Cai ZY, Li B, Ni H, Qiu X, Chen H, Liu W, Yang ZH, Liu M, Hu J, Liang Y, Lan P,  X, Han J, Mo W. Gut Stem Cell Necroptosis by Genome Instability Triggers Bowel Inflammation Nature. 2020 Apr; 580(7803): 386-390
5. Yang Z, Wang Y, Zhang Y, He X, Zhong CQ, Ni H, Chen X, Liang Y, Wu J, Zhao S, Zhou D, Han J. RIP3 targets pyruvate dehydrogenase complex to increase aerobic respiration in TNF-induced necroptosis. Nat Cell Biol. 2018 Feb; 20(2): 186-197
6. Zhang Y, Su SS, Zhao S, Yang Z, Zhong CQ, Chen X, Cai Q, Yang ZH, Huang D, Wu R, Han J. RIP1 autophosphorylation is promoted by mitochondrial ROS and is essential for RIP3 recruitment into necrosome. Nat Commun. 2017 Feb 8; 8: 14329
7. He WT, Wan H, Hu L, Chen P, Wang X, Huang Z, Yang ZH, Zhong CQ, Han J. Gasdermin D is an executor of pyroptosis and required for interleukin-1β secretion. Cell Res. 2015 Dec; 25(12): 1285-98
8. Chen W, Wu J, Li L, Zhang Z, Ren J, Liang Y, Chen F, Yang C, Zhou Z, Sean Su S, Zheng X, Zhang Z, Zhong CQ, Wan H, Xiao M, Lin X, Feng XH, Han J. Ppm1b negatively regulates necroptosis through dephosphorylating Rip3. Nat Cell Biol. 2015; 17(4): 434-444
9. Zhang DW, Shao J, Lin J, Zhang N, Lu BJ, Lin SC, Dong MQ, Han J. RIP3, an energy metabolism regulator that switches TNF-induced cell death from apoptosis to necrosis. Science 2009.325: 332-6
10.  Sun P, Yoshizuka N, New L, Moser BA, Li Y, Liao R, Xie C, Chen J, Deng Q, Yamout M, Dong MQ, Frangou CG, Yates JR, 3rd, Wright PE, Han J. PRAK is essential for ras-induced senescence and tumor suppression. Cell 2007. 128: 295-308
11. Jing Q, Huang S, Guth S, Zarubin T, Motoyama A, Chen J, Di Padova F, Lin SC, Gram H, Han J. Involvement of microRNA in AU-rich element-mediated mRNA instability. Cell 2005;120: 623-34
12. Ge B, Gram H, Di Padova F, Huang B, New L, Ulevitch RJ, Luo Y, Han J. MAPKK-independent activation of p38alpha mediated by TAB1-dependent autophosphorylation of p38alpha. Science 2002. 295: 1291-4
13. Han J, Jiang Y, Li Z, Kravchenko VV, Ulevitch RJ. Activation of the transcription factor MEF2C by the MAP kinase p38 in inflammation. Nature 1997. 386: 296-9
14. Han J, Lee JD, Bibbs L, Ulevitch RJ. A MAP kinase targeted by endotoxin and hyperosmolarity in mammalian cells. Science 1994.265: 808-11