Dr. Chang, Ya-Jen 's orcid link picture Dr. Chang, Ya-Jen 's publons link picture

Dr. Chang, Ya-Jen

Research Fellow
  • 02-27899050 (Lab) (Room No: N527)
  • 02-27898594 (Fax)
Specialty:
  1. Asthma
  2. Innate immunity
  3. Mucosal immunology
  4. Immunopharmacology
Education and Positions:

  • Ph.D., Pharmacology, National Taiwan University; 

    Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; 

    Research Associate in Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital

The goal of our laboratory is to determine how the newly defined innate immune cell subsets (ILC and NKT) regulate the development of asthma, autoimmune diseases, and microbial infections. Innate lymphoid cells (ILC), a type of non-T non-B lymphoid cells, represent an emerging family of cell types that seem to have crucial roles in the development of autoimmune diseases and in regulating the innate immunity towards pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms. Another innate immune cell subset, Natural Killer T cells (NKT), which express both NK and T cell markers, are activated by glycolipid antigens, particularly from certain bacteria. They have been found to modulate the process of immune response and participate in the development of several diseases. Despite the importance of these innate immune cell subsets in immunology and in human health, the mechanisms on how these cells activate and regulate disease processes are not well understood. Our research projects take advantage of our mouse models for asthma, as well as being well versed in characterizing ILCs in the lungs. We are interested in studying the mechanistic interactions between respiratory pathogens and lung functional disorders, as well as the mechanisms of how ILCs interplay with other innate or adaptive immune cells in the pathogenesis of asthma and infectious diseases. We are particularly interested in the development of therapeutic agents targeting the innate immune cell subsets in asthma, autoimmune and infectious diseases.

Our Team
Team photo

Journal 50 Book 1

  1. Lai AC, Gonzalez-Cuesta M, Ho CH, Chi PY, Wu KC, Rocha G, Munoz-García JC, Angulo J, García Fernandez JM, (Chang YJ*), Ortiz Mellet C* α-GalCer sp2-iminoglycolipid analogs as CD1d-dependent iNKT modulators: Evaluation of their immunotherapeutic potential in murine models of asthma and autoimmune hepatitis. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 282, 117060 (2025-01) [JCR] [WOS]
  2. Lin YC, (Chang YJ), Gau SS, Lo CM, Yang RB* SCUBE2 regulates adherens junction dynamics and vascular barrier function during inflammation.. Cardiovascular Research cvae, 132 (2024-06) [JCR] [WOS]
  3. Luo CH, Lai AC, Tsai CC, Chen WY, Chang YS, Chung EJ, (Chang YJ*) Staphylococcus aureus exacerbates dermal IL-33-ILC2 axis activation through evoking RIPK3/MLKL-mediated necroptosis of dry skin. JCI Insight 9(6), e166821 (2024-02) [JCR] [WOS]
  4. Thio CL, (Chang YJ*) Modulation of pulmonary group 2 innate lymphoid cell function in asthma: From inflammatory mediators to environmental and metabolic factors. Experimental and Molecular Medicine 10.1038, 1-13 (2023-09) [JCR] [WOS]
  5. Tsai CH, Lai AC, Lin YC, Chi PY, Chen YC, Yang YH, Chen CH, Shen SY, Hwang TL, Su MW, Hsu IL, Maitland-van der Zee AH, McGeachie MJ, Tantisira KG, (Chang YJ*), Lee YL* Neutrophil extracellular trap production and CCL4L2 expression influence corticosteroid response in asthma. Science Translational Medicine 15, eadf3843 (2023-06) [JCR] [WOS]
  6. Luo CH, Lai AC*, (Chang YJ*) Butyrate inhibits Staphylococcus aureus aggravated dermal IL-33 expression and skin inflammation through histone deacetylase inhibition.. Frontiers in Immunology 14, 1114699 (2023-05) [JCR] [WOS]
  7. González-Cuesta M, Lai AC, Chi PY, Hsu IL, Liu NT, Wu KC, García Fernández M, (Chang YJ*), Ortiz Mellet C* Serine-/Cysteine-Based sp2‑Iminoglycolipids as Novel TLR4 Agonists: Evaluation of Their Adjuvancy and Immunotherapeutic Properties in a Murine Model of Asthma. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 66, 4768-4783 (2023-03) [JCR] [WOS]
  8. Thio CL, Lai AC, Wang JC, Chi PY, Chang YL, Ting YT, Chen SY, (Chang YJ*) Identification of a PD-L1+Tim-1+ iNKT subset that protects against fine particulate matter–induced airway inflammation. JCI Insight 7(23), e164157 (2022-12) [JCR] [WOS]
  9. Thio CL, Lai AC, Ting YT, Chi PY, (Chang YJ*) The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate mitigates ILC2-driven airway inflammation by regulating mast cell function. Cell Reports 40, 111437 (2022-09) [JCR] [WOS]
  10. Chung EJ, Luo CH, Thio CL, (Chang YJ*) Immunomodulatory Role of Staphylococcus aureus in Atopic Dermatitis. Pathogens 11, 422-432 (2022-03) [JCR] [WOS]
- More Publications-

- POSTDOC -
Thio, Christina
Thio, Christina
Wang, Jo-Chiao
Wang, Jo-Chiao
- RESEARCH ASSOCIATES -
Chi, Po-Yu
Chi, Po-Yu
Wu, Ko-Chien
Wu, Ko-Chien
Ho, Chieh-Hsin
Ho, Chieh-Hsin
Yeh, Zih How
Yeh, Zih How
- STUDENTS -
Lo, Chia-Hui
Lo, Chia-Hui
Hsueh, Chia-Yi
Hsueh, Chia-Yi
Shao, Jheng-Syuan
Shao, Jheng-Syuan
Huang, Ting-Chieh
Huang, Ting-Chieh
- ALUMNI -
Wu, Yi-Hsiu
Wu, Yi-Hsiu
Ting, Yu-Tes
Ting, Yu-Tes
member
Chung, Ethan-Jachen
member
Chen, Yun-Chi
member
Calista, Ivy

  1. Outstanding Research Award from National Science and Technology Council-國科會傑出研究獎 (2024)
  2. Academia Sinica Presidential Scholars Program-中研院特優學術研究獎 (2021-2023) 
  3. Youth Award (Erudite category) from The China Youth Corps, Taiwan-中國青年救國團青年獎章-博學類 (2021)
  4. Academia Sinica Investigator Award-中研院深耕計畫獎 (2021)
  5. Academia Sinica Research Award for Junior Research Investigators-中研院年輕學者研究著作獎 (2020)
  6. Outstanding Research Award (Allergy) from the Chinese Society of Immunology-中華民國免疫學會劉文章教授紀念學術獎 (2018)
  7. Excellent Young Scholar Grant, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan-科技部優秀年輕學者研究計畫 (2016, 2019)
  8. Young Scientists 2015, selected by the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP)/Global Young Academy (GYA)-2015年全球年輕學者 (2015)
  9. The 3rd Annual Excellence in Creativity Award for Young Scholar from The Foundation for the  Advancement of Outstanding Scholarship-年輕學者創新獎 (2015)
  10. The 23rd Annual Top Ten Distinguished Young Woman, Taiwan-中華民國十大傑出女青年獎 (2015)
  11. Academia Sinica Career Development Award-中研院前瞻計畫獎 (2015)
  12. Li Foundation Heritage Prize for "Excellence in Creativity"-美國李氏傳統基金會創新研究傑出獎 (2013)
  13. Annual Young Scholar Award of Pharmacology Society of Taiwan-台灣藥理學會年輕學者獎 (2008)

---Honors and Awards Received by Trainees---

■2024 IBMS Research Day/TIGP Travel Award Competition (Best Oral Award) to NDMC Master student Ting-Chieh Huang

■2024 Scholarship of Graduate Research for Chen Tzong-Jen Memorial Immunology Foundation to NDMC Master student Ting-Chieh Huang

■2024 TIGP Molecular Medicine Program Retreat: Oral Presentation Award to PhD student Jheng-Syuan Shao and Poster Award to PhD student Chia-Hui Lo

■2024 TIGP Research Performance Award to TIGP PhD students Chia-Hui Lo and Jheng-Syuan Shao

■2023 Outstanding Oral Presentation Award for Annual Conference of the Chinese Society of Immunology (CSI) to TIGP PhD student Chia-Hui Lo

■2023 Oral Presentation and Young Investigator Travel Award for the IMMUNOLOGY AAI Annual Meeting to TIGP PhD student Jheng-Syuan Shao

■2023 Best Oral Presentation Award for Formosa Immunology Spring School & Symposium (FISS) to TIGP PhD student Chia-Hui Lo

■2022 Distinguished Poster Award for ICCB & APOCB JOINT MEETING to TIGP PhD student Jheng-Syuan Shao

■2022 NYCU Three Minutes Thesis Competition of Life Sciences (High Distinction Awards) to TIGP PhD student Chia-Hui Lo

■2022 IBMS Research Day/TIGP Travel Award Competition (Best Oral Award) to TIGP PhD student Chia-Hui Lo and Jheng-Syuan Shao

■2022 Academia Sinica Summer Internship Presentation Award to undergraduate student Yun-Chi Chen

■2021 Best Poster Award for Annual Conference of the Chinese Society of Immunology (CSI) to TIGP PhD student Chia-Hui Lo

■2021 Travel awards for Annual Conference of the Chinese Society of Immunology (CSI) to TIGP PhD student Chia-Hui Lo and NTU Master student Ethan-Jachen Chung

■2021 Academia Sinica Postdoctoral Fellowship (Life Science) to Postdoctoral fellow Christina Thio

■ 2020 Chinese Society of Immunology Annual Meeting Oral Competition Award to Chia-Hui Lo

■ 2019 Chinese Society of Immunology Annual Meeting Oral Competition Award to Postdoctoral fellow Christina Li-Ping Thio

■ 2019 Chinese Society of Immunology Annual Meeting Poster Competition Award to Yi-Hsiu Wu

■ 2019 Academia Sinica Postdoctoral Fellowship (Life Science) to Postdoctoral fellow Christina Thio

■ 2018 NHRI/IBMS Joint international Conference on Inflammation and Disease (Best Poster Award) to PhD student Mr. Yi-Hsiu Wu

■ 2018 IBMS Research Day/TIGP Travel Award Competition (Best Oral Award) to Postdoctoral fellow Christina Thio

■ 2018 Outstanding Oral Presentation Award to Postdoctoral fellow Chun-Chou Tsai in the  Joint Annual Conference of Biomedical Science, (Taipei, Taiwan)

■ 2017 TIGP Molecular Medicine Program Retreat (Best Oral Award) to PhD student Ms. Christina Thio

■ 2017 NHRI/IBMS Joint international Conference on Inflammation and Disease (Best Poster Award) to PhD student Ms. Christina Thio

■ 2017 TIGP Molecular Medicine Program Retreat (Best Poster Award) to PhD student Mr. Yi-Hsiu Wu

■ 2016 TIGP Molecular Medicine Program Retreat (Best Poster Award) to PhD student Ms. Christina Thio