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

Featured ArticleJune 23, 2020
Video: The power of our immune systems
JAX immunologist Adam Williams, Ph.D. says the immune system is like a playground for a scientist – a nearly perfect system that provides different cell types with specialized functions that all work together.
- Asthma
- Immune Disorders
Press ReleaseMay 13, 2020
National Cancer Institute Renews Jackson Laboratory’s Cancer Center Designation
JAX's Cancer Center designation has been renewed for the 34th year by the National Cancer Institute.
Research HighlightApril 13, 2020
Aggregating genomic data to improve precision oncology
Using a new meta-knowledgebase, cancer researchers have demonstrated improved matching between a patient cohort and variant interpretations of potential clinical significance, from an average of 33% per individual knowledgebase to 57% in aggregate.
- Cancer/Tumors
- Cancer
Search MagazineApril 01, 2020
Cancer: Does it run in the family?
Helping clinicians take better family histories improves patient cancer risk assessments.

Research HighlightMay 15, 2020
A needle in a haystack: Finding how a genetic variant increases the risk of autoimmune diseases
More than 98% of the genome doesn’t code for proteins, but recent findings show that many non-coding sequences play important roles in health and disease.
Blog PostMay 04, 2020
Updates in BRCA testing for People of Ashkenazi Jewish Ancestry
The traditional approach to genetic testing for those of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry is under debate, with some experts calling for testing all Ashkenazi Jewish individuals and others advocating for further research to inform any changes in testing criteria.
Search MagazineApril 08, 2020
Cutting off cancer's fuel supply
Computational scientists are on the front lines in the cancer fight.
Research HighlightMarch 20, 2020
JAX bites back at dog cancer, with surprising results!
Jackson Laboratory professor Dr. Roel Verhaak performed a study of cancer in dogs, looking for symptoms and cause of dog cancerous tumors on dogs, and in doing so, found some surprising connections to cancer in people.
- Cancer/Tumors
- Cancer

The Ren Lab

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

OUR RESEARCH FOCUS

Open Positions

Selected Publications

Highlighted Abstract

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