Hongbo Chi
Defines how mTORC1 signaling builds immune tolerance in regulatory T cells
PhD, University of Rochester · now Chair, Department of Immunology, St. Jude; Robert G. Webster Endowed Chair in Immunology
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Immunology ↗
His 2012 review (CHI2012) became a foundational reference for immunometabolism. In 2013 (ZEN2013), with Hu Zeng, showed mTORC1 (via Raptor) is required for Tregs to integrate metabolic cues and mature into suppressive cells — overturning the assumption Tregs are simply low-mTOR cells.
Chairs St. Jude Immunology, co-directs the Center of Excellence for Pediatric Immuno-Oncology. NCI Outstanding Investigator Award (2021), AAAS Fellow (2023), ICIS-BioLegend William E. Paul Award (2025), elected to National Academy of Sciences (2026).
Milestones in the Atlas
| Year | Evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | R | Regulation and function of mTOR signalling in T cell fate decisions CHI2012 Foundational review synthesizing how mTOR governs T-cell fate decisions. |
| 2013 | A | mTORC1 couples immune signals and metabolic programming to establish T(reg)-cell function ZEN2013 mTORC1 (via Raptor) required for Tregs to integrate metabolic signals and establish suppressive function. |
On the programme
Meetings in the Atlas calendar where Hongbo Chi is listed among the speakers or organisers.
- upcoming Keystone Symposia: Tumor and Host Metabolism — Integrating Molecular, Cellular, and Systemic Interactions 2027 ↗ 7–10 Mar 2027 · Princeton, NJ, USA · Tier 2
- upcoming 7th European Meeting on AMPK & Nutrient-Sensing Pathways 2026 ↗ 27–29 Sep 2026 · Lunteren, Netherlands · Tier 2