Nai-Jen Hsu Awarded NFR Grant

Junior Research Fellow, Nai-Jen Hsu, has recently been awarded a prestigious and highly competitive grant from the National Research Foundation (NRF). The grant, the NRF Competitive Support for Unrated Researchers (CSUR), will allow Hsu to continue his cutting-edge research into TB. The Division conducted a brief interview with Hsu about the grant and his research.

What is your name and position?
Nai-Jen Hsu, Junior Research Fellow

Which research group do you work in?
Experimental Tuberculosis and Immunology Research Group (Muazzam Jacobs)

Tell us about the grant you received.
NRF Competitive Support for Unrated Researchers (CSUR)
The CSUR is a highly competitive discipline-based funding instrument which supports both basic and applied research. It is restricted to persons who are established researchers but do not currently hold an NRF rating. it is anticipated that these individuals will continue to produce quality and impactful research, contributing to South Africa’s global research and development output. 

Provide a brief summary of your research.
Tuberculosis (TB) affects one third of the global population, and TB of the central nervous system (CNS-TB) is the most severe form of tuberculosis which often associates with high mortality and severe neurological complications. Little has understood of the cells that regulate infection, the respective functions and contributions of different cell types to overall protection of the CNS. Clarifying the nature of the neuro-immune responses, particularly induced by CNS resident cells, will be beneficial to further the understanding of CNS-TB pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies. 

Current research projects:

(1) CNS-TB
The aim of this research theme is to understand the respective functions of different cell types, including neurons, astrocytes and the recruited dendritic cells, to neuroinflammation during CNS-TB. 

(2) Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in tuberculosis 
The aim of this project is to delineate the contribution of TNF and TNF receptors signalling in immune control of M. tuberculosis infections in the lung and the brain. 

(3) Anti-mycobacterial compounds 
This project investigates the potential use of specific modified compounds against TB infection.

(4) Humanized mouse model 
The aim of this research theme is to conduct frontier translational research by using various humanized mouse models.

Why do you work in immunology?
Immunology is an exciting and broad area of the biological sciences. When I obtained my PhD in the discipline of neuroscience and cell biology from the Human Biology Department, I joined the TB research group within the Division of Immunology. Since then, I have taken a leading role in a research program that models tuberculosis of the central nervous system, a multi-disciplinary research involves both immunology and neuroscience. It has been a challenging but also rewarding journey. 

What would you would be if you weren't an immunologist? 
Neuroscientist

What is the best advice or recommendations for young immunologists?
Don’t give up!

Interview by Bonamy Holtak