Shengli Song

I am a dedicated investigator motivated by disease-focused immunology research that addresses clinically meaningful problems and improves patient health. My training includes biotechnology and pharmaceutical science (BS), microbiology and molecular biology (MS), T-cell biology (PhD), and postdoctoral training in B-cell immunology. This interdisciplinary path has provided a strong foundation in molecular immunology and diverse experimental approaches. I have specialized expertise in molecular biology and bioinformatics, which I leverage to tackle complex immunological problems in innovative ways. My five-year postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Garnett Kelsoe in the Department of Integrative Immunobiology at Duke University was particularly formative, instilling a lasting commitment to scientific rigor and critical thinking.

My current work at the Duke Transplant Center focuses on understanding humoral allorecognition by profiling allogeneic HLA-specific B-cell responses in sensitized transplant candidates. We are working to define the phenotype, specificity, function, and B-cell receptor genetics of rare HLA-specific B cells, with the goal of clarifying the molecular basis of HLA immunogenicity and immunodominance. To enable this research, I have developed innovative platforms for efficient discovery and characterization of rare antigen-specific B cells—tools intended to be broadly applicable across immunology. I hope this work will inform improved strategies for immunological risk assessment and support better graft outcomes in transplant patients.