• Utilize synthetic biology approaches to investigate biological pattern and structure formation, develop vaccines against infectious diseases, and create novel treatments for cancer and aging.
• Investigate the roles of intracellular transportation in development, cellular function, and diseases.

Prof. Huang earned his BS degree in Genetics and Genetic Engineering from Fudan University, Shanghai and went to the USA through the “China and United States Biochemistry Examination and Application (CUSBEA)” program to pursue his PhD study.  He earned his PhD degree in Biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles.  Thereafter, Prof. Huang received his postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health in the USA.  During this period, Prof. Huang was the first to report that the two major intracellular transportation systems of mammalian cells, the microtubule- and actin-filament-based system directly interact with each other through their motor proteins, kinesin and myosin.  Later, he established his own laboratory at the University of Hong Kong.  Prof. Huang’s current research focuses on synthetic biology and intracellular transportation.  Prof. Huang have created novel genetic circuits for the control of gene expression and hence biological behavior.  He also generated several vaccines by using synthetic biology approach and programmed bacteria as tumor therapeutic drug.  Prof. Huang was the first researcher in the greater China region to publish a paper in synthetic biology in Science.

Synthetic Biology: Synthetic Biology refers to the design and fabrication of biological components and systems that do not already exist in the natural world, as well as the re-design and fabrication of existing biological systems for useful purposes. My laboratory aims to design and fabricate artificial biological parts, devices, and circuits to control biological pattern formation (Science V334; Nature Physics V16), attack cancer cells (Nature Communications V12:2537; Cell Discovery V10:127), and prevent infectious diseases (Cell Host & Microbe V31; Advanced Functional Materials 2305120; Nature Communications V14(1):3440; PNAS V121:36; The Innovation 100739).

Intracellular Transportation: My primary research interest is in the mechanisms of intracellular transportation and its roles in development, cellular functions, and diseases. Within the cell, various components are moved to specific sites at specific times, and these processes are essential not only for housekeeping purposes but also for specialized cellular functions, such as the transport of synaptic vesicles. Intracellular transportation occurs over two major cellular networks: the microtubule and actin networks. Microtubule motors include the kinesin and dynein families of proteins, while actin motors are the myosin family of proteins. Current research suggests that the microtubule network is used for long-distance transport, whereas the actin network is used for short-range delivery in animal cells. Disruption of these processes can result in genetic diseases. For example, mutations in myosin-VA cause human Griscelli disease, characterized by pigment dilution, immunodeficiency, neurological defects, and cognitive disorders. Mutations in other motor molecules can lead to various other diseases, such as heart diseases and deafness.

My previous work demonstrated that myosin-VA can interact directly with the ubiquitously expressed kinesin (Nature V397), suggesting that the two transportation systems are at least partially coordinated through their motor molecules. The major interest of my group is to use transgenic and knockout mice to study the functions of kinesins in chondrocytes, neurons, and other cell types. Another area of interest in the lab is to investigate the molecular and structural basis of cargo-binding by kinesins.

1. Renhao Li, Jing-Chu Hu, Li Rong, Yige He, Xiaolei Wang, Xuansheng Lin, Wenjun Li, Yangfan Wu, Chaiyaporn Kuwentrai, Canhui Su, Thomas Yau, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Xiang Gao, Jian-Dong Huang (2025) “The Guided Fire from Within: Intratumoral Administration of mRNA-Based Vaccines to Mobilize Memory Immunity and Direct Immune Responses against Pathogen to Target Solid Tumors”, Cell Discovery, Volume 10, Article number: 127
2. Xiaolei Wang, Ying Dou, Jingchu Hu, Celia Hoi-Ching Chan, Renhao Li, Li Rong, Huarui Gong, Jian Deng, Terrence Tsz-Tai Yuen, Xuansheng Lin, Yige He, Canhui Su, Bao-Zhong Zhang, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Hin Chu, and Jian-Dong Huang (2024) “Conserved moonlighting protein pyruvate dehydrogenase induces robust protection against Staphylococcus aureus infection”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume: 121, Issue: 36, e2321939121
3. Ye-Fan Hu, Terrence Tsz-Tai Yuen, Hua-Rui Gong, Bingjie Hu, Jing-Chu Hu, Li Rong, Lin-lei Chen, Xiao-lei Wang, Chaobi Lei, Xuan-Sheng Lin, Thomas Yau, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Bao-Zhong Zhang, Hin Chu, Jian-Dong Huang (2023) “Rational design of a booster vaccine strain against COVID-19 based on antigenic distance”, Cell Host & Microbe, V 31, 1–16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2023.07.004
4. Yee-Man Au-Yeung, Chuyuan Zhang, Chen Huan, Hin Chu, Hanjun Zhao, Bao-Zhong Zhang, and Jian-Dong Huang, (2023) “Engineered intranasal virus trap provides effective protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters”, Advanced Functional Materials, 2305120 doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202305120
5. Xiaolei Wang, Terrence Tsz-Tai Yuen, Ying Dou, Jingchu Hu, Renhao Li, Zheng Zeng, Xuansheng Lin, Huarui Gong, Chaemin Yoon, Huiping Shuai, Deborah Tip-Yin Ho, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Bao-Zhong Zhang, Hin Chu, and Jian-Dong Huang (2023) “IFN-γ mediated-cellular immunity is essential to the vaccine-induced protection against SARS-CoV-2 in B cell-deficient mice”, Nature Communications, V14(1):3440 https://rdcu.be/decLB  doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39096-y
6. Huiping Shuai, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Bingjie Hu, Yue Chai, Terrence Tsz-Tai Yuen, Feifei Yin, Xiner Huang, Chaemin Yoon, Jing-Chu Hu, Huan Liu, Jialu Shi, Yuanchen Liu, Tianrenzheng Zhu, Jinjin Zhang, Yuxin Hou, Yixin Wang, Lu Lu, Jian-Piao Cai, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Jie Zhou, Shuofeng Yuan, Melinda A. Brindley, Bao-Zhong Zhang, Jian-Dong Huang, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Hin Chu, (2022) “Attenuated replication and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 Omicron”, Nature DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04442-5
7. Jian Deng, Bao-zhong Zhang, Hin Chu, Xiao-lei Wang, Yixin Wang, Hua-Rui Gong, Renhao Li, Dong Yang, Cun Li, Ying Dou, Peng Gao, Jian-piao Cai, Meilin Jin, Qian Du, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Richard Yi-Tsun Kao, Kwok-Yung Yuen, and Jian-Dong Huang (2021) “Adenosine synthase A contributes to recurrent Staphylococcus aureus infection by dampening T cell responses”, EBioMedicine, Volume 70, 103505. (*Equal contribution, #co-corresponding author) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103505 
8. Qiubin Lin, Li Rong, Xian Jia, Renhao Li, Bin Yu, Jingchu Hu, Xiao Luo, Badea Smaranda-ruxandra, Chen Xu, Guofeng Fu, Kejiong Lai, Ming-chun Lee, Baozhong Zhang, Huarui Gong, Nan Zhou, Xiao Lei Chen, Shu-hai Lin*, Guo Fu*, Jian-Dong Huang*, (2021) “Salmonella potently inhibits cancer metastasis by activating IFN-γ-dependent NK cell”, Nature Communications V12:2537 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22755-3
9. Agnese I. Curatolo, Nan Zhou, Yongfeng Zhao, Chenli Liu, Adrian Daerr, Julien Tailleur and Jian-Dong Huang (2020) Cooperative pattern formation in multi-species bacterial colonies. Nature Physics (article) (2020) V16, PP 1152–1157, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-0964-z
10. Bao-zhong Zhang, Hin Chu, Shuo Han, Huiping Shuai, Jian Deng, Ye-fan Hu, Hua-rui Gong, Andrew Chak-Yiu Lee, Zijiao Zou, Thomas Yau, Wutian Wu, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Jian-Dong Huang (2020) SARS-CoV-2 productively infects human brain organoids. Cell Research V30, pages 928–931 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-020-0390-x
11. Bao-zhong Zhang, Ye-fan Hu, Lin-lei Chen, Thomas Yau, Yi-gang Tong, Jing-chu Hu, Jian-piao Cai, Kwok-Hung Chan, Ying Dou, Jian Deng, Xiao-lei Wang, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Kwok-yung Yuen, and Jian-Dong Huang (2020) Mining of Epitopes on Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19 Patients. Cell Research V30(8) Page 702-704, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-020-0366-x
12. Meriem Belabed, François-Xavier Mauvais, Sophia Maschalidi, Mathieu Kurowska, Nicolas Goudin, Jian-Dong Huang, Alain Fischer, Geneviève de Saint Basile, Peter Van Endert, Fernando E. Sepulveda and Gaël Ménasché, (2020) Kinesin-1 is required for antigen cross-presentation by inducing the scission of tubulations from early endosomes in dendritic cells. Nature Communications V11, Article number 1817: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15692-0
13. Raozhou Lin, Zhigang Duan, Haitao Sun, Man-Lung Fung, Hansen Chen, Jing Wang, Chi-Fai Lau, Di Yang, Yu Liu, Yanxiang Ni, Zai Wang, Ju Cui, Wutian Wu, Wing-Ho Yung, Ying-Shing Chan, Amy C.Y. Lo, Jun Xia, Jiangang Shen, and Jian-Dong Huang (2019) Kinesin-1 Regulates Extrasynaptic Targeting of NMDARs and Neuronal Vulnerability Toward Excitotoxicity, iSciences v13, pp82-97. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2019.02.009
14. Yan-Xiang Ni, Nan Zhou, Wen-Qian Xue, Li Rong, Wing-Ho Yung, Rao-Zhou Lin, Richard Yi-Tsun Kao, Zhi-Gang Duan, Hai-Tao Sun, Hua-Rui Gong, Xu-Ming Tang1, Wen Zhang, Shuang Qi, Sookja Chung, You-Qiang Song and Jian-Dong Huang (2018) A new role of anterograde motor Kif5b in facilitating large clathrin-coated vesicle mediated endocytosis via regulating clathrin uncoating. Cell Discovery Volume 4, Article number: 65. DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-018-0067-5 (https://rdcu.be/bejLN)
15. Baozhong Zhang, JianPiao Cai, Bin Yu, Lifeng Xiong, Qiubin Lin, SongYue Zheng, Richard Yi-Tsun Kao, Konghung SZE, Kwok-Yung Yuen, and Jian-Dong Huang (2017) Immunotherapy Targeting Adenosine Synthase A Decreases Severity of Staphylococcus aureus Infection in Mouse Model. Journal of Infectious Diseases V216, p245-253 [Abstract] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jix290
16. Lei Shi, Bin Yu, Chunhui Cai, Wei Huang, Bo-Jian Zheng, David K. Smith, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Jian-Dong Huang (2016) Combined prokaryotic-eukaryotic delivery and expression of therapeutic factors through a primed autocatalytic positive-feedback loop. Journal of Controlled Release V222 pp. 130 – 140 doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.12.005
17. Baozhong Zhang, YanHong Hua, Bin Yu, Candy ChoiYi Lau, JianPiao Cai, SongYue Zheng, WingCheong Yam, Richard Yi-Tsun Kao, Konghung Sze, Bo-Jian Zheng, Kwok-Yung Yuen and Jian-Dong Huang (2015Recombinant ESAT-6-like proteins provoke protective immune responses against invasive Staphylococcus aureus disease in a murine model. Infection and Immunity V83(1):339-345
18. Ye Jin, Jianting Wu, Yannan Li, Zhiming Cai and Jian-Dong Huang (2013) Modification of the RpoS network with an artificial small RNA. Nucleic Acids Research, V41(17):8332-8340
19. Zai Wang, Ju Cui, Jing Wang, Xin-Mei Zhang, Wai Man Wong, Neal G. Copeland, Nancy A. Jenkins, Julian A. Tanner, Kathryn S E Cheah, Wu-Tian Wu and Jian-Dong Huang (2013) Kinesin-1 controls the localization of myofibrils components for their assembly and linkage to the myotendinous junctions. Development V140(3), P617-626
20. Chenli Liu, Xiongfei Fu, Lizhong Liu, Xiaojing Ren, Carlos K.L. Chau, Sihong Li, Lu Xiang, Hualing Zeng, Guanhua Chen, Lei-Han Tang, Peter Lenz, Xiaodong Cui, Wei Huang, Terence Hwa, Jian-Dong Huang (2011) Sequential establishment of stripe patterns in an expanding cell population. Science V334(6053), P238-241
21. Ju Cui, Zai Wang, Qianni Cheng, Raozhou Lin, Xin-Mei Zhang, Po Sing Leung, Neal G. Copeland, Nancy A. Jenkins, Kwok-Ming Yao, and Jian-Dong Huang (2011) Targeted Inactivation of Kinesin-1 in Pancreatic β-Cells in vivo Leads to Insulin Secretory Deficiency. Diabetes V60(1), P320-330
22. Richard Y Kao, Dan Yang, Lai-Shan Lau, Wayne H W Tsui, Lihong Hu, Jun Dai, Mei-Po Chan, Che-Man Chan, Pui Wang, Bo-Jian Zheng, Jian Sun, Jian-Dong Huang, Jason Madar, Guanhua Chen, Honglin Chen, Yi Guan & Kwok-Yung Yuen (2010) Identification of influenza A nucleoprotein as an antiviral target. Nature Biotechnology V28, P600–605
23. Yang, N., Tanner, J.A., Watt, R.M., Jin, L., Zheng, B.J., He, M.L., Lu, L.Y., Lin, Y.P., Wong, K.L., Lin, M.C., Kung, H.F., Sun, H.Z. *, and Huang, J.D.* (2007). Bismuth Complexes as Inhibitors of the SARS Coronavirus, Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, V46:6464-6468 (* co-corresponding author)
24. Liu, B., Wang, J., Chan, K. M., Tjia, W. M., Deng, W., Guan, X., Huang, J. D., Li, K. M., Chau, P. Y., Chen, D. J., Pei, D., Pendas, A. M., Cadinanos, J., Lopez-Otin, C., Tse, H. F., Hutchison, C., Chen, J., Cao, Y., Cheah, K. S.,Tryggvason K,Zhou Z (2005).Genomic instability in laminopathy-based premature aging. Nature Medicine 11 (7), 780-785
25. Huang, J.D., Brady, S.T., Richards, B.W., Stenoien, D., Resau, J.H., Copeland, N.G., and Jenkins, N.A. (1999). Direct interaction of microtubule-and actin-based transport motors. Nature, V397: 267-270

Prof. Huang is a recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Award for Universities in Shanghai, Fellow of the China and United States Biochemistry Examination and Application (CUSBEA) Program, the HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award 2005-2006, the HKU Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award 2011-2012, the HKU Outstanding Researcher Award 2014-2015, Croucher Senior Research Fellowships 2021-2022, and WuXi AppTec Life Science and Chemistry Awards 2021.