From tumours to EVs: A Young researcher’s quest to harness tiny messengers for immune health
Meet Zheng Lei (William), a clinical medicine graduate whose passion for immune research led him from oncology to a new frontier—plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). Now part of the EU-funded NutriEV project, he’s helping uncover how these natural nano-particles might become tomorrow’s superfoods or therapeutic tools.
Zheng Lei—who often goes by William—is one of the young minds contributing to the project. With a background in clinical medicine and a special focus on oncology, his journey into plant science might seem unexpected. But during his Master’s, something clicked, and his path evolved. Yet for William, it was a natural transition driven by curiosity and a passion for immune research.
We spoke with William to learn more about his role in NutriEV, his motivations, and what discoveries might lie ahead.
“I was involved in projects investigating how extracellular vesicles contribute to immune evasion and radioresistance in tumours,” he recalls. “That work sparked my interest in EVs—the way these particles influence cell communication fascinated me.”
So, when Professor Jane Chen introduced him to the NutriEV project, William didn’t hesitate. “What immediately caught my attention was the potential of plant-derived EVs to modulate immune responses. That was a completely new area for me—and very exciting. I was also drawn to the use of cutting-edge techniques within the project, which offered both a valuable opportunity and an exciting challenge.”
Now a doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu in Finland, William is one of the young scientists driving NutriEV’s mission: to explore nutrient-enriched extracellular vesicles (nutriEVs) from plants and fermented foods and understand how they might be used to combat obesity, regulate metabolism, and support immune health.
From lab bench to big questions
William’s role in NutriEV is both hands-on and deeply analytical.
“My main role is to investigate how plant-derived EVs influence the immune system in vivo and in vitro. I design and conduct experiments, analyse the data, and try to interpret how EVs affect immune cell behavior.”
His work is vital to one of NutriEV’s central goals: understanding the biological functions of these naturally occurring nanoparticles.
“My expectations have evolved as the project has progressed, especially after preliminary in vivo experiments with plant derived EVs showed exciting results,” he explains. “These findings have been very encouraging and have energized the team.”
This progress has shifted William’s expectations as the project unfolds. “Research always has challenges, but the exciting data has really reinforced the potential impact of our work. It’s motivating.”
Seeing the unseen
Of course, no research journey is without obstacles. For William, one of the biggest has been technical: how to track the vesicles inside living systems.
“EVs are nanoscale—they’re not easily visible under confocal microscopy. That makes it hard to follow their distribution and biological behaviour,” he says. “Overcoming this obstacle requires more detailed planning and dedicated efforts to accurately trace their interactions within biological systems.”
Still, there have been moments of triumph. One especially satisfying achievement? “Seeing our vesicles reduce fat accumulation in cell cultures was a real high point. That data gave me confidence in NutriEV’s potential as a superfood.”
Looking ahead, together
With more in vitro experiments on the horizon, William is excited about what comes next.
“Building on the exciting results from our previous in vivo experiments, I’m looking forward to the upcoming in vitro studies, which will allow us to closely examine how immune cells respond to the presence of EVs. These experiments are crucial for uncovering the underlying mechanisms by which plant derived EVs influence immune function, and I’m excited about the potential insights they will bring to the project.”
Collaboration has been key. William highlights the contributions of fellow doctoral researcher Ramila Mammadova, also at the University of Oulu: “She’s provided the plant derived EVs and for her valuable assistance with the experiments. Her support has been crucial.”
Working with partners across Europe—especially those in Germany—has also broadened his perspective: “I’ve learned to appreciate data science in guiding experiments. I’ve also learned the value of clear, cross-team communication.”
A vision for natural therapies
Ultimately, William hopes NutriEV’s discoveries will go beyond the lab.
“I hope that through this research, we can identify the specific therapeutic components within extracellular vesicles and uncover potential targets for immune-related diseases. Looking ahead, I would like to see our findings translate into clinical applications that can improve patient outcomes and contribute to the development of new, natural-based therapies.”
As part of NutriEV’s diverse, transdisciplinary team, William embodies the future of European science—combining clinical insight with curiosity, collaboration, and a drive to solve some of today’s biggest health challenges.
From the tumour cells he once studied to the plant-derived vesicles he now explores; William is following a scientific path guided by a simple but powerful question: what if nature already holds the answers?