Zhengrong (Rong) Cui, PhD

Title:

Research Assistant Professor

Department:

Radiation Medicine
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Oregon State University) - primary appointment

Specialty:

Radiation Medicine

PhD Degree:

University of Kentucky, Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2002

Post-Doctoral Fellowship:

University of Pittsburgh, Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2004

Research Summary:

Zhengrong Cui’s research focuses on macromolecule delivery. The following are a couple of examples.

Funding/Grants:

NIH NIAID R21 AI070538 (PI) "A tri-antigen nasal anthrax vaccine against toxins and vegetative bacilli"

NIH NIAID R03 AI065774 (PI)
"Anthrax DNA vaccine for noninvasive immunization onto the skin"

NIH NIAID R43 AI077119 (Co-PI)
"Liposomal adjuvant for vaccine development"

OR_CAL Chemical, Inc. (PI)
"Evaluation of the anti-tumor activity of a proprietary compound (V)"

Non-invasive immunization onto the skin:

Skin has evolved to protect not only by acting as a physical barrier, but also by its role in our powerful immune system. As a front line of the host’s defense against pathogens, skin is well equipped for immune surveillance. Thus, targeting vaccine antigens to the skin epidermis should be able to efficiently induce strong immune responses. However, the forbidden barrier posed by the stratum corneum layer in the epidermis prevents effective entrance of vaccine antigens into the epidermis. Although the immune responses are rather weak, non-invasive immunization onto the skin has proven to be a viable immunization modality. Thus, we are interested in enhancing the immune responses from this route and in elucidating the mechanism of immune induction.