CIMR-Fangwei Leng

Research Group

Fangwei Leng

fangwei.leng(at)cimrbj.ac.cn

Assistant Investigator

fangwei.leng(at)cimrbj.ac.cn

B.S. in Biotechnology, Wu Yuzhang Honors College, Sichuan University, China

Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Work Experience

2025.5-Present

Assistant Investigator, Chinese Institutes for Medical Research, Beijing, China

2023.9-2025.5

Instructor, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, USA

2016.7-2023.9

Postdoc Researcher, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA

Research Direction

The Leng Laboratory at CIMR investigates the molecular mechanisms by which FoxP3 regulates the gene network of regulatory T cells (Tregs), with the goal of developing drugs that target FoxP3 to modulate Treg activity, offering potential therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Major Research Projects

1. Investigating protein interactions and gene regulatory networks in Tregs.

2. Developing small molecules, peptides and nanobodies to modulate Treg function.

3. Exploring the role of microsatellites in gene regulation and genetic disorders.

Major Contributions

1. Uncovering the critical role of FoxP3 head-to-head dimerization in Treg function (Immunity, 2022).

2. Discovering that FoxP3 recognizes and multimerizes on TnG repeat microsatellites, revealing a novel DNA-bridging mechanism (Nature, 2023).

3. Revealing the role of versatile FoxP3 ensembles in three-dimensional genomic architecture (Molecular Cell, 2025).

Representative Publications *：Co-first author; #：Co-corresponding author

Leng F*, Merino R*, Wang X, Zhang W, Ha T, Hur S. Ultrastable and Versatile FoxP3 Ensembles on Microsatellites. Molecular Cell, 2024, In press.

Zhang W*, Leng F*, Wang X, Ramirez R, Park J, Benoist C, Hur S. FoxP3 recognizes microsatellites and bridges DNA through multimerization. Nature, 2023, 624: 433-441. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06793-z (Previewed in Nature, 2023, 624: 255-256)

Leng F*, Zhang W*, Ramirez RN, Leon J, Zhong Y, Hou L, Yuki K, van der Veeken J, Rudensky AY, Benoist C, Hur S. The transcription factor FoxP3 can fold into two dimerization states with divergent implications for regulatory T cell function and immune homeostasis. Immunity, 2022, 55: 1354-1369.e8. DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.07.002 (Cover article; Previewed in Immunity, 2022, 55: 1329-1331)

Leng F*, Yin H*, Qin S, Zhang K, Guan Y, Fang R, Wang H, Li G, Jiang Z, Sun F, Wang DC, Xie C. NLRP6 self-assembles into a linear molecular platform following LPS binding and ATP stimulation. Sci Rep, 2020, 10: 198. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57043-0

Leng F, Xie C, Wang DC. Structure and self-assembly of NLRP10. Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2015, 42: 1112-1118. DOI: 10.16476/j.pibb.2015.0306

Leng F. Build a two-way road for health industry: the current circumstance of translational medicine in China. Sci China Life Sci, 2012, 55: 931-932. DOI: 10.1007/s11427-012-4377-9

Leng F. Opportunity and challenge: ten years of proteomics in China. Sci China Life Sci, 2012, 55: 837-839. DOI: 10.1007/s11427-012-4372-1

Leng F. On Ca²⁺ signalling research. Sci China Life Sci, 2012, 55: 744-746. DOI: 10.1007/s11427-012-4358-z

Leng F. Recent progress of immunology research in China. Sci China Life Sci, 2011, 54: 1068-1070. DOI: 10.1007/s11427-011-4248-9

Full List of Publications Can Be Found here