About
Phone: +61 7 3845 3645
Dr. Sheng serves as the Laboratory Manager and the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Project Leader, bringing extensive expertise in cell and molecular biology. As a senior scientist, Dr. Sheng has a strong background in cancer biology, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and mucosal immunology. Their research has focused on dissecting intracellular signalling pathways and developing experimental therapeutic strategies using mouse models of cancer and other diseases.
A key area of Dr. Sheng’s research has been the investigation of the role of Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor (TACI) in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). TACI is a receptor primarily expressed on B cells and plays a crucial role in B-cell survival, differentiation, and immune regulation by mediating signals from its ligands, APRIL (A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand) and BAFF (B-cell Activating Factor). While TACI is essential for normal immune function, growing evidence suggests that dysregulated TACI signaling may contribute to the progression of B-cell malignancies, including CLL.
Dr. Sheng has been instrumental in defining and characterizing the role of TACI in CLL pathogenesis. Their research demonstrated that TACI signaling supports the survival, proliferation, and persistence of CLL cells within the tumor microenvironment. By promoting interactions between CLL cells and surrounding immune components, TACI may enhance CLL cell fitness and resistance to therapy. Furthermore, Dr. Sheng’s work revealed that genetic inhibition of TACI effectively prevents CLL development in preclinical models, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.
In addition to their contributions to TACI research, Dr. Sheng has established a high-efficiency Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) CLL model within the team. This advanced model achieves an ~65% hCD45⁺ engraftment rate—a 50-fold improvement compared to previously available models. This breakthrough significantly accelerates the evaluation of novel therapies, providing a more robust platform for testing targeted treatments and investigating CLL biology in a clinically relevant setting.
Through their expertise in tumor microenvironment interactions, immune regulation, and experimental therapeutics, Dr. Sheng’s work continues to advance our understanding of CLL pathogenesis and shape the development of novel treatment strategies. Their pioneering efforts in TACI-targeted therapy and PDX modeling are driving forward translational research, bridging the gap between preclinical discoveries and potential clinical applications in CLL.
Number of Publication: 62
64% of my papers are in the top quarter for its subject area. In the subject area of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Number of citations: 1,925, average citations per paper is 30.4, average citations per year is 67.3.
H-index: 21 on 10/09/2021
Funding
Nationally Competitive Research and Industry Collaborative Funding: Total value>$800,000
2020-2021: CIA: Gastroenterological Society of Australia Project Grant -Examining the Therapeutic Potential of MUC1 Inhibition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. $30,000.
2020-2021: CIA: Gastroenterological Society of Australia Mostyn Grant - Targeting MUC1 Cell Surface Mucin to Sensitise Colorectal Cancer to Therapy. $30,000.
2014-2016: CID: NHMRC Project Grant. APP 1060698 - Cell Surface Mucins in Gastrointestinal Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Development. $469,628.
2011-2012: CIC: Cancer Council of Queensland Project Grant. APP 1021518 - Targeting MUC13 to Sensitise Colorectal Cancer Cells to Apoptosis. $200,000.
2015-2016: CIB: AstraZeneca UniQuest Target Translation & Drug Repurposing. T02370-003 - Treating lung and colorectal cancers. $81,984.