Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
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Featured Publications
Compartmentalized ocular lymphatic system mediates eye–brain immunity
Yin X, Zhang S, Lee J, Dong H, Mourgkos G, Terwilliger G, Kraus A, Geraldo L, Poulet M, Fischer S, Zhou T, Mohammed F, Zhou J, Wang Y, Malloy S, Rohner N, Sharma L, Salinas I, Eichmann A, Thomas J, Saltzman W, Huttner A, Zeiss C, Ring A, Iwasaki A, Song E. Compartmentalized ocular lymphatic system mediates eye–brain immunity. Nature 2024, 628: 204-211. PMID: 38418880, PMCID: PMC10990932, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07130-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchResponse to herpes simplex virusCentral nervous systemImmune response to herpes simplex virusPosterior eyeImmune responseTherapeutic immune responsesOptic nerve sheathCervical lymph nodesAdeno-associated virusCNS diseaseDeep cervical lymph nodesHerpes simplex virusImmune protected miceCentral nervous system tissueLymphatic drainage systemImmunological featuresAnatomical extensionNerve sheathOptic nerveGene therapyLymph nodesMultiple dosesSimplex virusLymphatic circuitLymphatic signalNeuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 in human and mouse brain
Song E, Zhang C, Israelow B, Lu-Culligan A, Prado AV, Skriabine S, Lu P, Weizman OE, Liu F, Dai Y, Szigeti-Buck K, Yasumoto Y, Wang G, Castaldi C, Heltke J, Ng E, Wheeler J, Alfajaro MM, Levavasseur E, Fontes B, Ravindra NG, Van Dijk D, Mane S, Gunel M, Ring A, Kazmi SAJ, Zhang K, Wilen CB, Horvath TL, Plu I, Haik S, Thomas JL, Louvi A, Farhadian SF, Huttner A, Seilhean D, Renier N, Bilguvar K, Iwasaki A. Neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 in human and mouse brain. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2021, 218: e20202135. PMID: 33433624, PMCID: PMC7808299, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202135.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2Central nervous systemSARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasionImmune cell infiltratesCOVID-19 patientsType I interferon responseMultiple organ systemsCOVID-19I interferon responseHuman brain organoidsNeuroinvasive capacityCNS infectionsCell infiltrateNeuronal infectionPathological featuresCortical neuronsRespiratory diseaseDirect infectionCerebrospinal fluidNervous systemMouse brainInterferon responseOrgan systemsHuman ACE2InfectionVEGF-C-driven lymphatic drainage enables immunosurveillance of brain tumours
Song E, Mao T, Dong H, Boisserand LSB, Antila S, Bosenberg M, Alitalo K, Thomas JL, Iwasaki A. VEGF-C-driven lymphatic drainage enables immunosurveillance of brain tumours. Nature 2020, 577: 689-694. PMID: 31942068, PMCID: PMC7100608, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1912-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBrain NeoplasmsCD8-Positive T-LymphocytesCell Cycle CheckpointsCell Line, TumorCell MovementCentral Nervous SystemCross-PrimingFemaleGlioblastomaHEK293 CellsHumansImmunologic MemoryImmunologic SurveillanceLymph NodesLymphangiogenesisLymphatic VesselsMaleMelanomaMeningesMiceMice, Inbred C57BLProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorVascular Endothelial Growth Factor CConceptsCD8 T cellsCentral nervous systemT cellsImmune responseBrain tumorsImmune surveillanceLymphatic drainageNervous systemAntigen-specific immune responsesDeep cervical lymph nodesCapacity of VEGFCervical lymph nodesCheckpoint blockade therapyMeningeal lymphatic systemVascular endothelial growth factor CNew therapeutic approachesUncontrolled tumor growthMeningeal lymphatic vasculatureBlockade therapyLymph nodesTherapeutic approachesMouse modelTumor growthMemory responsesTumorsSurface chemistry governs cellular tropism of nanoparticles in the brain
Song E, Gaudin A, King AR, Seo YE, Suh HW, Deng Y, Cui J, Tietjen GT, Huttner A, Saltzman WM. Surface chemistry governs cellular tropism of nanoparticles in the brain. Nature Communications 2017, 8: 15322. PMID: 28524852, PMCID: PMC5454541, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15322.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSurface chemistryDifferent surface chemistriesDrug deliveryNanoparticlesNanoparticle designChemistryTherapeutic efficacyAssociation rateFunctionalizationCentral nervous systemConvection-enhanced deliverySignificant uptakeBrain interstitiumOrthotopic modelNervous systemNeurological diseasesAdverse toxicityCellular tropismExtent of internalizationCellular depositionBrainCell populationsDepositionPropertiesGlioblastomaVEGF-C prophylaxis favors lymphatic drainage and modulates neuroinflammation in a stroke model
Boisserand L, Geraldo L, Bouchart J, Kamouh M, Lee S, Sanganahalli B, Spajer M, Zhang S, Lee S, Parent M, Xue Y, Skarica M, Yin X, Guegan J, Boyé K, Leser F, Jacob L, Poulet M, Li M, Liu X, Velazquez S, Singhabahu R, Robinson M, Askenase M, Osherov A, Sestan N, Zhou J, Alitalo K, Song E, Eichmann A, Sansing L, Benveniste H, Hyder F, Thomas J. VEGF-C prophylaxis favors lymphatic drainage and modulates neuroinflammation in a stroke model. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2024, 221: e20221983. PMID: 38442272, PMCID: PMC10913814, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221983.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVascular endothelial growth factor-CDeep cervical lymph nodesCentral nervous systemEffect of vascular endothelial growth factor-CMeningeal lymphatic vesselsAmeliorated motor performanceCervical lymph nodesIschemic strokeVEGF-C overexpressionIncreased BDNF signalingAcute ischemic strokeBrain cellsIncreased CSF drainageIschemic stroke outcomesModel of ischemic strokeMouse model of ischemic strokeImmune surveillanceCSF drainageLymph nodesFluid drainageNucleus RNA sequencingLymphatic growthLymphatic drainageMouse modelBDNF signalingDeveloping synthetic tools to decipher the tumor–immune interactome
Weizman O, Luyten S, Lu P, Song E, Qin K, Mostaghimi D, Ring A, Iwasaki A. Developing synthetic tools to decipher the tumor–immune interactome. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2306632120. PMID: 37871202, PMCID: PMC10622925, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306632120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune cellsImmune-based therapiesTumor-immune cell interactionsDifferent immunotherapiesRetroviral reportersSensitive tumorsImmune surveillanceTumor subtypesTumor microenvironmentSynthetic Notch receptorCell interactionsCell contactTissue functionTissue locationNotch receptorsVivoOptimal tissue functionCellsComprehensive landscapeImmunotherapyTherapyTumorsImmunogenicitySubtypesSingle-cell analysis reveals inflammatory interactions driving macular degeneration
Kuchroo M, DiStasio M, Song E, Calapkulu E, Zhang L, Ige M, Sheth A, Majdoubi A, Menon M, Tong A, Godavarthi A, Xing Y, Gigante S, Steach H, Huang J, Huguet G, Narain J, You K, Mourgkos G, Dhodapkar R, Hirn M, Rieck B, Wolf G, Krishnaswamy S, Hafler B. Single-cell analysis reveals inflammatory interactions driving macular degeneration. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 2589. PMID: 37147305, PMCID: PMC10162998, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37025-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAge-related macular degenerationMacular degenerationNeurodegenerative diseasesNeurodegenerative conditionsLate-stage age-related macular degenerationPossible new therapeutic targetsPostmortem human retinaProgressive multiple sclerosisNew therapeutic targetsEarly phaseSingle-nucleus RNA sequencingInflammatory interactionsMultiple sclerosisInterleukin-1βDisease progressionControl retinasTherapeutic approachesGlial populationsGlial stateTherapeutic targetDisease pathogenesisRetinal diseasesAlzheimer's diseaseDiseaseHuman retinaDistinct Mechanisms of Mismatch-Repair Deficiency Delineate Two Modes of Response to Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Endometrial Carcinoma.
Chow RD, Michaels T, Bellone S, Hartwich T, Bonazzoli E, Iwasaki A, Song E, Santin AD. Distinct Mechanisms of Mismatch-Repair Deficiency Delineate Two Modes of Response to Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Endometrial Carcinoma. Cancer Discovery 2022, 13: 312-331. PMID: 36301137, PMCID: PMC9905265, DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-0686.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-PD-1 immunotherapyImmune checkpoint blockadeMMRd tumorsNK cellsEndometrial carcinomaICB responseMutation burdenT-cell-driven immunityPhase II clinical trialMMRd endometrial cancersPD-1 inhibitorsMismatch repair-deficient cancersTumor-extrinsic factorsHigh response rateEffector CD8Antitumor immunityEndometrial cancerCancer immunotherapyImmune cellsLonger survivalClinical trialsPrimary resistanceT cellsResponse rateMMRdLINE-1 activation in the cerebellum drives ataxia
Takahashi T, Stoiljkovic M, Song E, Gao XB, Yasumoto Y, Kudo E, Carvalho F, Kong Y, Park A, Shanabrough M, Szigeti-Buck K, Liu ZW, Kristant A, Zhang Y, Sulkowski P, Glazer PM, Kaczmarek LK, Horvath TL, Iwasaki A. LINE-1 activation in the cerebellum drives ataxia. Neuron 2022, 110: 3278-3287.e8. PMID: 36070749, PMCID: PMC9588660, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.08.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLINE-1 activationL1 activationAtaxia telangiectasia patientsNuclear element-1Transposable elementsEpigenetic silencersHuman genomeL1 promoterMolecular regulatorsDNA damagePurkinje cell dysfunctionElement 1First direct evidenceTelangiectasia patientsDirect targetingCerebellar expressionNeurodegenerative diseasesDisease etiologyCalcium homeostasisDiverse functional autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19
Wang EY, Mao T, Klein J, Dai Y, Huck JD, Jaycox JR, Liu F, Zhou T, Israelow B, Wong P, Coppi A, Lucas C, Silva J, Oh JE, Song E, Perotti ES, Zheng NS, Fischer S, Campbell M, Fournier JB, Wyllie AL, Vogels CBF, Ott IM, Kalinich CC, Petrone ME, Watkins AE, Dela Cruz C, Farhadian S, Schulz W, Ma S, Grubaugh N, Ko A, Iwasaki A, Ring A. Diverse functional autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19. Nature 2021, 595: 283-288. PMID: 34010947, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03631-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeripheral immune cell compositionSARS-CoV-2 infectionCOVID-19Effects of autoantibodiesTissue-associated antigensSpecific clinical characteristicsInnate immune activationImmune cell compositionCOVID-19 exhibitCOVID-19 manifestsAnalysis of autoantibodiesSARS-CoV-2Functional autoantibodiesMouse surrogateClinical characteristicsVirological controlClinical outcomesImmune activationMild diseaseAsymptomatic infectionAutoantibody reactivityDisease progressionHealthcare workersHigh prevalenceAutoantibodies
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- July 28, 2025
Appointment of Eric Song, MD, PhD to the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science and Department of Immunobiology
- February 28, 2024Source: Yale News
In Fight Against Brain Pathogens, the Eyes Have It
- November 02, 2022Source: Inside Precision Medicine
Mismatch Repair Genes May Be Key to Immunotherapy Response
- November 01, 2022Source: Yale News
Why Immunotherapy Works Well for Some Cancer Patients, but Not Others
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