Dr. Jaehyung Cho joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology as a Professor in August, 2020.
Dr. Cho had his Ph.D. training in the laboratory of Deane Mosher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Using proteomics and confocal microscopy, his study revealed the novel mechanism by which plasma fibronectin stabilizes platelet adhesion and aggregation in arterial thrombosis. During his postdoctoral work in the laboratory of Bruce Furie at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, he demonstrated that extracellular protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is required for platelet thrombus formation and fibrin generation at the site of arteriolar injury. Since starting his lab in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in September 2009, his group generated tissue-specific PDI conditional knockout (CKO) mice for the first time, which have been pivotal to continuous success by identifying the role of extracellular PDI in inflammation and thrombosis. The team discovered the novel roles of platelet- and neutrophil-released PDI in regulating the function of cell surface molecules and their adhesive function. Another important work from the group is the demonstration of novel mechanisms mediating platelet-neutrophil heterotypic interactions and vascular occlusion under thromboinflammatory conditions. Dr. Cho has been continually successful in obtaining funding from NIH, AHA, and ASH. His lab currently runs on 4 R01 and 1 R33 grants. He has trained 11 postdoctoral fellows, 5 graduate students, 5 research specialists, 4 medical students, and 6 undergraduate students. Most of his trainees have obtained their fellowships and independent grants from AHA, ASH, or NIH and have transitioned to successful careers in academia and industry. In addition, Dr. Cho has designed and taught classes at graduate and medical schools and has been extensively involved in services in the department and the UIC. By co-directing the Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Ph.D. Program at UIC, organizing a Midwest Platelet Conference, chairing and moderating scientific sessions at AHA and ASH, serving as an advisory board or committee member on journals and societies (AHA ATVB and ISTH), and participating in grant and paper reviews, Dr. Cho has gained invaluable leadership skills and insights critical for his academic success.
Since moving to the Division of Hematology in the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in August 2020, Dr. Cho has been actively collaborating with several investigators and participating in the activities and services of the Division and graduate school (MCB Program). He is very confident that he will continue to succeed in his career and his expertise and background will complement those of the faculty members at Washington University School of Medicine.