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Research Highlights

Our research centers on deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling antitumor immunity, and exploiting knowledge to device the next-generation cancer immunotherapies.

Two active research directions are:

1.Identify new immune checkpoints and develop new immune checkpoint blockade therapy for cancer.

  • New immune metabolic checkpoints (e.g., creatine).
  • New neuron/immune interface checkpoints (e.g., serotonin axis).

2. Develop novel “off-the-shelf” allogeneic immune cell therapies for cancer.

  • Harnessing unconventional T cells: NKT, γδT, MAIT, and more.
  • Engineering stem cells: iPSC, HSC, and more.
  • Exploiting gene therapy modalities: TCR, CAR, immune enhancers, and more.
  • Targeting a broad range of cancers: blood cancers (e.g., multiple myeloma, AML), solid tumors (e.g., ovarian cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer), and more (e.g., infections and autoimmune disorders). 

Featured Publications

Liu Z*, Li Y-R*, Yang Y*, Zhu Y, Yuan W, Hoffman T, Wu Y, Zhu E, Zarubova J, Shen J, Nan H, Yeh K-W, Hasani-Sadrabadi MM, Zhu Y, Fang Y, Ge X, Li Z, Soto J, Hsiai T, Yang L# and Li S#. (*Co-first authors; #Co-corresponding authors).  Viscoelastic synthetic antigen-presenting cells for augmenting the potency of cancer therapies. Nat. Biomed. Eng. 2024, October 25. doi: 10.1038/s41551-024-01272-w. Online ahead of print. [Nature Biomedical Engineering  PDF] [UCLA Samueli Newsroom  PDF] [UCLA Health News  PDF] [UCLA BSCRC News  PDF]

Zhu E*, Yu J*, Li, Y-R, Ma F, Wang Y-C, Liu Y, Li M, Kim YJ, Zhu Y, Hahn Z, Zhou Y, Brown J, Zhang Y, Pellegrini M, Hsiai T, Yang L* and Huang Y#. (*Co-first authors; #Co-corresponding authors).  Biomimetic cell stimulation with a graphene oxide antigen-presenting platform for developing T cell-based therapies. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2024, September 23. doi: 10.1038/s41565-024-01781-4. Online ahead of print. [Nature Nanotechnology  PDF][UCLA Life Sciences News  PDF][UCLA Health News PDF][UCLA BSCRC News  PDF][UCLA CNSI News  PDF][AAAS EurekAlert!   PDF]

Li Y-R*, Zhou Y*, Yu J*, Kim YJ, Li M, Lee D, Zhou K, Chen Y, Zhu Y, Wang Y-C, Li Z, Yu Y, Dunn ZS, Guo W, Cen X, Husman T, Bajpai A, Kramer A, Wilson M, Fang Y, Huang J, Li S, Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Hahn Z, Zhu E, Ma F, Pan C, Lusis AJ, Zhou JJ, Seet CS, Kohn DB, Wang P, Zhou XJ, Pellegrini M, Puliafito BR, Larson SM, and Yang L. (*Co-first authors)  Generation of allogeneic CAR-NKT cells from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells using a clinically guided culture method. Nat. Biotechnol. 2024, May 14. doi: 10.1038/s41587-024-02226-y. Online ahead of print. [Nature Biotechnology  PDF][Nature Biotechnology News & Views  PDF][Nature Portfolio  PDF][UCLA Newsroom  PDF][UCLA Health News  PDF][UCLA BSCRC News  PDF][Bioquick News  PDF]

Featured News

December 12, 2024

December 12, 2024- Our commentary article is published on Cancer Cell, reporting breaking the mold by harnessing unconventional T cells... Read More

June 14, 2024

June 14, 2024- Our Postdoctoral Scholar, Charlie Yan-Ruide Li, wins the 2024 UCLA Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics (MIMG) Department... Read More

May 30, 2024

May 30, 2024- Dr. Lili Yang receives a $6.3 million CIRM Partnering Opportunity for Translational Research Projects Award to translate... Read More

November 15, 2023

We are currently recruiting PhD students (2 openings) and postdoctoral researchers (1 opening). Welcome to apply! [PhD Openings][Postdoc Openings]... Read More

August 5, 2021

May 11, 2021- Our off-the-shelf cell therapy technology is licensed by a Biotech startup, Appia Bio, for commercial development. The... Read More