Mohammad Haj Dezfulian, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory MedicinePerelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Contact InformationPerelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Stellar-Chance Laboratories, Rm 709C
440 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Email: mohammad.hajdezfulian@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Specialty Division
Cancer and Immunobiology
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.
Education
B.Sc. (Molecular Biology and Genetics), Tehran University & Chamran University, 2006
PhD (Molecular Biology and Genetics), University of Windsor, 2014
Specialty Certification
Postgraduate Training
Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School/ Birgham and Women's Hospital, 2015-2022
Awards and Honors
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Graduate Student Scholarship, Graduate School Salary Award, 2006-12
International Graduate Scholarship, University of Windsor, Department of Graduate Studies, Full tuition scholarship for the duration of graduate studies, 2006-12
Graduate Excellence Award, University of Windsor, Department of Graduate Studies, Tuition Scholarship, 2006-12
Conference Travel Award, Department of Graduate Studies, University of Windsor, 2008
International Student of the Year Award, International Student Society, University of Windsor, 2010-11
Excellence in Research and Teaching Award, Graduate Student Society, University of Windsor, 2011-12
Conference Travel Award, Department of Graduate Studies, University of Windsor, 2012
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology, Government of Ontario, Graduate school salary award, 2012-13
Poster Presentation Award, Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology Gordon Research Conference, CA, 2023
Roberts Family-Katalin KarikoĢ Fellowship in Vaccine Development, 2024
Memberships and Professional Organizations
American Association for Cancer Research, 2024 - Present
Web Links
Selected Publications
High-throughput discovery of MHC class I- and II-restricted T cell epitopes using synthetic cellular circuits
Kohlgruber AC, Dezfulian MH, Sie B, Wang CI, Kula T, Laserson U, Larman HB, Elledge SJ., Nat Biotechnol no volume(no issue): , 2024
TScan-II: A genome-scale platform for the de novo identification of CD4+ T cell epitopes
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., Cell 186(25): 5569-5586.e21, 2023
T-Scan: A Genome-wide Method for the Systematic Discovery of T Cell Epitopes.
Kula T, Dezfulian MH, Wang CI, Abdelfattah NS, Hartman ZC, Wucherpfennig KW, Lyerly HK, Elledge SJ., Cell. 178(4): 1016-1028.e13, 2019
