Nutrition and Immunity Lab - Research Team

Current Lab Members

Sherry Xu

Sherry received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Fudan University, China. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Integrative and Biomedical Physiology and NIH-T32 predoctoral research fellow. Her research interests focus on the potential immunological mechanisms underlying the cancer-preventive effect by changes in energy balance. Using a murine model of metastatic breast cancer, she is investigating how physical activity and dietary energy restriction may reduce tumor progression by modulating pro- vs. anti-tumor immunity. 

Ester Soojung Oh

Ester Soojung Oh received her B.S. and M.S. in Nutritional Science & Food from Ewha Womans University, South Korea. She is now a PhD Candidate completing a dual-title degree in Nutritional Sciences and Clinical and Translational Sciences. Her research interests include the effects of nutritional factors on inflammation and immune regulation. She is currently working on a project that aims to determine if consumptions of spices in the context of daily meal consumption can alleviate chronic, low-grade inflammation in adults with overweight and obesity.

Shizhao Duan

Shizhao obtained his M.S. in Nutritional Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University in 2018. He studied the role of innate and adaptive immunity in controlling non-immunogenic 4T1.2 tripple negative breast cancer mouse model and 4T1.2luc model. Before coming to Pennsylvania, Shizhao received his M.A. in Nutrition Science from Syracuse University.