IBS Life Science Institute

Host-virus interactions are complex processes that span binding to cells, entry, dissemination, and finally lytic or latent infection. During infection, host innate immune system restricts viral replication. However, mechanisms underlying viral propagation out of the host surveillance remain unclear.

Our research goal is to understand the molecular basis of virus latency establishment and how it plays a critical role in cellular immune evasion and/or viral reactivation. In addition, we are interested in understanding the role of “the endogenous parasites”, retroelements, in host-virus interaction and innate immunity.

High-resolution mapping of RNA-protein interactions & ultrasensitive and super-resolution proximity labeling proteomics

Our laboratory is working on innovative solutions to combat the degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system that inevitably come with aging.

Hyeshik Chang develops and applies transcriptome profiling technologies to explore new RNA regulation mechanisms. His team has specialty in modifying high-throughput sequencing techniques and employing machine learning to identify patterns within large data sets.

Our lab investigates the biology of endogenous double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), an emerging class of regulatory and immunogenic RNAs with important roles in human health and disease. Although long dsRNAs have traditionally been regarded as signatures of viral infection, accumulating evidence indicates that human cells naturally produce diverse dsRNAs from mitochondrial transcripts, repetitive elements, and other genomic regions. Our research seeks to understand how these cellular dsRNAs are generated, recognized, and regulated, and how their dysregulation contributes to aberrant innate immune activation. By integrating fundamental RNA biology with immunology and therapeutic development, we aim to elucidate how endogenous dsRNAs shape gene regulation, innate immunity, and cell fate, and to harness these mechanisms for the treatment of human disease.