Dr Alan Hsu’s research aims to understand how respiratory viruses like influenza and coronavirus hijack cellular pathways to cause severe diseases such as inflammatory storms, tissue damage, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. By decoding these mechanisms, he hopes to develop effective therapeutic strategies to combat viral infections and severe diseases.

Characterizing the complex network of host molecules and intracellular signalling pathways exploited by viruses provides vital insights into immunobiology and opens up novel therapeutic avenues. Dr Hsu takes an integrated, multidisciplinary approach combining cutting-edge techniques like spatial transcriptomics, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, nanoparticle delivery systems, and advanced human airway epithelial cell models.

This powerful toolkit allows him to map the innate immune signaling mechanisms triggered by viral infections and assess potential therapies with novel therapeutic molecules. His work illuminates the intricate molecular interplay between viruses and host cells, bringing us closer to transformative treatments that prevent infection from progressing to severe diseases. His research thus pioneers novel host-directed therapeutic strategies with the potential to save countless lives during future pandemics.