Chuchun Liz Chang, MS, PhD

Dr. Chang’s research is focused on understanding how bioactive lipid mediators, such as fish oil-derived omega-3 fatty acids, modulate innate immune cell biology, which is fundamental to the body’s basic responses to systemic inflammation linked to the pathogenesis of many inflammation-related diseases, including infection, tissue injury, metabolic disorder and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Her earlier findings described and established the mechanisms underlying the protective roles of dietary omega?3 fats against atherosclerotic CVD by regulating plasma lipid profiles and improving systemic and focal aortic inflammatory responses in various experimental cell culture and rodent models.

Recent projects in the Chang laboratory sought to ascertain the molecular mechanisms of the action of acute omega-3 fatty acid treatment on improving systemic inflammation with respect to membrane microstructure. Assessing metabolic characteristics and tissue fatty acid enrichment of a novel emulsion compound containing medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and fish oil that may cooperatively modulate membrane lipid composition and cellular lipid metabolism to achieve the fastest and highest-magnitude anti-inflammatory effects is a current focus of her laboratory.

The Chang laboratory aims to uncover and define the optimal composition of omega-3-containing lipid particles that maximizes cellular enrichment of omega-3 fatty acids, ultimately informing the design of potential therapeutic agents for systemic inflammation related to acute infection, traumatic injury, and tissue remodeling.