Yuxin ZHENG
MD, PhD
The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine (SAHZU), China
February 2025
A short description of my research project
Since June 2023, I have been fortunate to join a joint Ph.D. program at the Skin Research Lab, AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (A*STAR), Singapore, under the mentorship of Professor John Common. I am deeply grateful for the support of the ISAD Society research fellowship, which has enabled me to continue an exciting project investigating the role of IL1R2 in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Through this project, I have had the privilege of collaborating and exchanging ideas with professors from Nanyang Technological University and Kyoto University.
A summary of my research outcomes
Our preliminary findings from in vivo and in vitro studies, along with single-cell sequencing data, suggest that the IL-1 signaling pathway may play a more significant role in atopic dermatitis than previously understood. IL1R2, as a decoy receptor, appears to modulate inflammatory responses. Its altered expression in atopic dermatitis may contribute to disease development, presenting new potential therapeutic avenues. After receiving my 3-month fellowship, I continued working with the team to further explore the underlying mechanisms in greater depth. We are currently preparing a manuscript based on this research.
I am truly grateful to the ISAD Society research fellowship for allowing me to be part of such an outstanding team. This experience has deepened my understanding of skin biology, the mechanisms of skin barrier function, and inflammatory skin diseases. It has been a fantastic starting point for my academic career and is invaluable to my professional development. I sincerely appreciate ISAD’s support for young dermatologists, which provides us with valuable opportunities to advance our research and contribute to the field.
Photos from my time in the lab
