Mohammad Haj Dezfulian, PhD

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Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Abramson Cancer Center Member, University of Pennsylvania
The Institute for Immunology and Immune Health (I3H) Member, University of Pennsylvania
Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Education:
B.Sc. (Molecular Biology and Genetics)
Tehran University & Chamran University, 2006.
PhD (Molecular Biology and Genetics)
University of Windsor, 2014.
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Description of Research Expertise

My lab's primary research objective is to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms by which genetically encoded biomolecules regulate complex immunological responses. By integrating systems biology with advanced biomolecular design and engineering, we develop innovative tools and technologies to systematically dissect and reconstruct these intricate biological systems. This engineering-driven approach allows us to precisely decode immune responses and specificity in patient-derived samples across a spectrum of pathologies. Through strategic collaborations and the engineering of novel biological modalities, our ultimate goal is to translate the mechanistic insights we acquire into effective immunomodulatory therapies for autoimmune disorders, malignancies, and infectious diseases.

Selected Publications

Kohlgruber AC, Dezfulian MH, Sie B, Wang CI, Kula T, Laserson U, Larman HB, Elledge SJ.: High-throughput discovery of MHC class I- and II-restricted T cell epitopes using synthetic cellular circuits. Nat Biotechnol no volume(no issue), July 2024 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-024-02248-6.

Dezfulian MH, Kula T, Pranzatelli T, Kamitaki N, Meng Q, Khatri B, Perez P, Xu Q, Chang A, Kohlgruber AC, Leng Y, Jupudi AA, Joachims ML, Chiorini JA, Lessard CJ, Farris AD, Muthuswamy SK, Warner BM, Elledge SJ. : TScan-II: A genome-scale platform for the de novo identification of CD4+ T cell epitopes. Cell 186(25): 5569-5586.e21, December 2023 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.024. Epub 2023 Nov 27.

Kula T, Dezfulian MH, Wang CI, Abdelfattah NS, Hartman ZC, Wucherpfennig KW, Lyerly HK, Elledge SJ.: T-Scan: A Genome-wide Method for the Systematic Discovery of T Cell Epitopes. Cell. 178(4): 1016-1028.e13, August 2019 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.07.009.

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Last updated: 04/10/2025
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