Hengcheng Zhang, MD, PhD

2025 John Merrill Grant in Transplantation

Institution: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Project Title: Role of Intrarenal Tfh cells in Mediating Graft Dysfunction after Kidney Transplantation

How would you sum up your overall research focus in one sentence?

My research focuses on uncovering how intragraft T follicular helper cells drive kidney transplant rejection and fibrosis through interactions with stromal cells.

Provide a brief overview of the research you will conduct with help from the grant.

With this grant, I will study how T follicular helper cells promote kidney transplant rejection and fibrosis. I aim to understand how these immune cells interact with kidney tissue through IL-21 signaling. Using mouse models and single-cell technologies, my research could reveal new targets to improve transplant outcomes.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

I'm a surgeon, and after my first kidney transplant surgery, the patient's simple thumbs-up deeply inspired my dedication to transplantation research. This motivated me to pursue basic research in transplantation to better understand the mechanisms behind graft failure. I am driven by the goal of improving outcomes for transplant recipients through scientific discovery.

What impact do you hope your research will have on patients?

I hope my research will lead to new strategies that prevent chronic rejection and improve long-term kidney transplant survival for patients.

What are your career goals at the end of the grant period? Five years out? Ten years out?

At the end of the grant period, I aim to establish an independent research program in transplant immunology. In five years, I hope to secure fundings and lead a productive lab focused on improving transplant outcomes. In ten years, I envision becoming a leader in the field, advancing both scientific discovery and mentorship in kidney transplantation research.

What has surprised you most about your career?

What has surprised me most is how complex and iterative research can be-progress often requires solving multiple unexpected problems. I've also learned that the most meaningful advances often come through interdisciplinary collaboration and persistent teamwork.

What advice would you give to others to encourage them to apply for this grant funding?

Be bold and apply—your research could make a real difference for patients and the future of kidney care.

Something you may not know about me is…

I've performed over 1,000 mouse kidney and heart transplants, refining surgical models stitch by stitch to support our research.

In my free time, I like to…

Explore new places and discover local food spots.