Le Xu, PhD

As a tenure-track assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary Biology at Cincinnati Children’s, I am passionate about uncovering how the diverse cells of the lung work together to achieve the organ’s essential mission: breath. I believe “no cell accomplishes anything alone,” and this philosophy guides my research as we explore how more than 40 cell types align, communicate and adapt to sustain and restore healthy lung function.
 
My lab is dedicated to decoding the mysteries of lung cell stemness, plasticity and communication, especially in the context of disease and repair. We use a combination of genetic models, cell culture, advanced imaging, and single cell epigenomic approaches to study the lung at unprecedented resolution. By modeling disease and perturbing normal processes, we aim to reveal how context-dependent and on-demand cellular behaviors contribute to lung repair and regeneration.
 
My journey in science has been shaped by a commitment to mentorship and collaboration. I am proud to offer stable support and close guidance to trainees at all levels in my lab, which is funded by my startup package and grant from NIH. I have also been honored with an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship and NHLBI K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award.
 
As our lab grows, we remain open to new directions and ideas, building on our previous findings while welcoming fresh perspectives. I invite you to visit our lab webpage for information about available projects and open positions. Stay tuned for our latest discoveries and updates—no cell, and no scientist, accomplishes anything alone.