Li-Yun LIN
Current Position/Title: Special-Appointed Assistant Professor
Institutional Affiliation: The Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University
Email: linliyun@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Webpage: https://kumamoto-u-jrchri.jp/en/
Host Scholar: Sui-Yuan Chang, Professor
Hosting Department/Institution: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine
Biography:
Li-Yun Lin, PhD is an immunologist and virologist specializing in host immune responses to viral infections, with a particular focus on HIV-1, antibody-mediated immunity, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). She received her PhD in Immunology, specializing in Virology and Vaccinology, from the University of Strasbourg, France, where she investigated protective antibody responses following HIV vaccination and infection under the supervision of Dr. Christiane Moog.
During her research career at Inserm UMR_S1109, she studied HIV-specific humoral immunity, including antibody neutralization, Fc-mediated effector functions, and host genetic factors such as HLA and Fc receptor polymorphisms. She subsequently expanded her research experience in Japan through work in vaccine development and preclinical immunological evaluation.
She is currently a Special-Appointed Assistant Professor at Kumamoto University, Japan. Her research focuses on the role of MDSCs in chronic viral infections, particularly HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV), and their impact on antiviral immunity and vaccine responses. Her broader interests include immune regulation, antibody-mediated immunity, and translational biomarker research.
Lecture [1]
Date ＆ Time: 2026.10.13, 3:20 PM – 4:10 PM
Venue: Room 1001, International Convention Center; Chang Yung-Fa Foundation; No. 11, Zhongshan South Road, Taipei City 10048, Taiwan
Title: From Molecular Biology to Immune Profiling: Leveraging and Optimizing the Cytek Platform for Cross-Disciplinary Research
Abstract:
Our laboratory has traditionally focused on molecular biology and molecular mechanisms, while my research interests are centered on immunology and immune regulation. This interdisciplinary environment creates exciting opportunities, but also presents practical challenges when establishing immune profiling workflows outside our laboratory’s traditional expertise.
In this presentation, I will share our experience leveraging Cytek’s integrated platform to bridge this gap and establish immune profiling workflows more efficiently. The combination of Cytek instrumentation and standardized assay solutions provided us with a practical starting point, allowing us to shorten the learning curve and reduce the time and trial-and-error required to enter a new experimental field.
Importantly, rather than simply adopting the recommended workflows as-is, we systematically evaluated and adapted key experimental parameters, including reagent dilution and staining time, to better fit our research needs. These optimizations allowed us to reduce reagent consumption and experimental costs while maintaining robust staining and profiling performance.
I will discuss why we chose the Cytek platform, how we adapted both the instrumentation-based workflow and assay conditions to our applications, and what we learned through the optimization process. Our experience highlights how an integrated and standardized platform can serve as a flexible foundation for cross-disciplinary research, while thoughtful optimization can further improve experimental efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
Ultimately, I hope to share a practical user perspective on how the Cytek platform helped us transition from a molecular biology-focused laboratory toward more advanced immunological research, while enabling us to develop efficient and cost-effective immune profiling workflows.
Lecture [2]
Date ＆ Time: 2026.11.26, 10:00 A.M ~11:00 A.M
Venue: Lecture Hall 10 (3F), No. 1, Changde St., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100229, Taiwan (R.O.C.) (Laboratory Medicine Building, West Campus, NTUH)
Title: From HLA Typing to Immune Regulation: A Journey Through HIV Immunology
Abstract:
Why do different people respond differently to the same virus or vaccine?
My research journey began with a seemingly simple question: how can we understand differences in immune responses between individuals? Starting with HLA typing, I became interested in how genetic variation shapes the immune response to HIV. This led me to investigate HIV-specific immune responses, particularly antibody responses and their functional properties, and gradually shifted my focus from studying the immune response itself to understanding why that response differs from one individual to another.
As my research progressed, I became increasingly interested in the role of host genetic background and ethnicity in shaping antiviral immunity. Working with cohorts and collaborators from different populations made me realize that many findings in immunology are generated from relatively limited populations, while human genetic diversity may contribute substantially to differences in immune responses, disease progression, and vaccine responses. This perspective led me to explore the connections between host genetics, antibody function, and population diversity.
My research has now evolved toward a broader question: beyond genetic differences, what other factors determine the quality and regulation of antiviral immunity? I am currently investigating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and their role in chronic viral infections, particularly HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus. By studying how these cells interact with immune responses and influence immune function during different stages of infection, I hope to better understand the mechanisms underlying individual variation in antiviral immunity and vaccine responses.
In this lecture, I will share not only the scientific discoveries that shaped my research, but also the questions, unexpected results, collaborations, and changes in perspective that guided me from HLA typing to HIV immunology, host and population differences, and ultimately to the study of immune regulation. Through this journey, I hope to show how a research career can evolve from following one question to discovering a much bigger one.