Jackson Laboratory

The Ren Lab

Principal Investigator: Guangwen "Gary" Ren, Ph.D.

The Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, ME

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To study tumor microenvironment and tumor immunology in cancer therapeutic resistance and metastatic relapse

OUR RESEARCH FOCUS

The Ren group mainly focuses on elucidating how mesenchymal lineage cells (mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts) and immune-regulatory myeloid cells (neutrophils and macrophages) modulate the adaptive immune responses in cancer treatment resistance and metastatic relapse. These studies will fully take advantage of the unique research platform--patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors in humanized mouse models at The Jackson Laboratory, with the research goal to develop novel strategies targeting tumor microenvironment to improve the efficacies of conventional cancer therapies and new therapeutics such as immunotherapy.

Full Scientific Report

The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center

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Open Positions

Job	Job Title	Location	Description

Lab Staff

Li Hua, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

Stromal cells may provide a positive or negative role in modulating the immunotherapy.
Peishan Li, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

Dissecting the Roles of MSC and Adipocytes in Cancer Metastasis
Guangwen "Gary" Ren, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

To study tumor microenvironment and tumor immunology in cancer therapeutic resistance and metastatic relapse.

Selected Publications

Highlighted Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also called multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, exist in almost all tissues and are a key cell source for tissue repair and regeneration. Under pathological conditions, such as tissue injury, these cells are mobilized towards the site of damage. Tissue damage is usually accompanied by proinflammatory factors, produced by both innate and adaptive immune responses, to which MSCs are known to respond. Indeed, recent studies have shown that there are bidirectional interactions between MSCs and inflammatory cells, which determine the outcome of MSC-mediated tissue repair processes. Although many details of these interactions remain to be elucidated, we provide here a synthesis of the current status of this newly emerging and rapidly advancing field.

View full list of publications

Research HighlightApril 17, 2019
Intercepting genes to study red blood cells
Supported by a recent two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, JAX researchers are developing a new form of gene intercept methodology to deplete mouse macrophages but not other cells.
Press ReleaseApril 01, 2019
Premature cellular aging and multiple sclerosis
Research led by the UConn School of Medicine and JAX shows that senescence, a cellular aging process, is associated with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS). The finding explains a mechanism for MS disease progression as well as indicating a promising avenue for therapy development.
- Multiple sclerosis
- Aging
Search MagazineMarch 06, 2019
From tragedy, hope and closure
Doctors who treat rare pediatric cancers face an awful truth: many of their patients will die far too young.
- Cancer/Tumors
- Cancer
Press ReleaseMarch 05, 2019
JAX receives grant to learn why flu vaccines are less effective in the elderly
$2.8 million federal grant to The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) to understand the aging-related genomic changes in immune cells that affect responses to flu vaccines.

Search MagazineApril 11, 2019
Tipping the balance in the fight against cancer
JAX Professor Karolina Palucka is seeking new ways to harness the body's natural defenses against cancer.
- Immunology
- Immune Disorders
Search MagazineMarch 19, 2019
Making a difference for rural cancer patients
Dr. Jens Rueter and the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative are providing advanced genomic tools to oncology practices throughout Maine.
Search MagazineMarch 06, 2019
Finding a better way to fight childhood cancers
Ching Lau is working to find effective therapies and test them against patients’ own tumors in specially made patient derived xenotype (PDX) mice.
Research HighlightFebruary 28, 2019
Fueling cancer
Cancer cells need energy. A lot of it. Their aggressive growth, not surprisingly, is therefore largely fueled by an abnormal metabolism.
- Cancer/Tumors
- Cancer