Principal Investigator
Lili Yang, Principal Investigator
Lili received her B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Science & Technology of China (USTC) in 1997, her M.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in 1999, and her Ph.D. degree in Biology from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2004. She had her postdoctoral training and led the Engineering Immunity Program at the Laboratory of David Baltimore at Caltech from 2004-2012. She joined UCLA as a faculty in 2013. Lili runs the Yang Engineering Immunity Lab studying tumor immunology and developing next-generation cancer immunotherapies.
Besides research, Lili enjoys reading and traveling.
liliyang@ucla.edu
Staff/Scientists
Bo Li, Assistant Researcher (2019-Current)
Bo received his B.A. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Wuhan Institute of Technology in 2005, and his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College in 2010. He was a postdoctoral scholar at the Loma Linda University (LLU) and UCLA from 2010-2016, and an Assistant Professor at LLU from 2016-2019. He returned to UCLA and joined the Yang Lab as an Assistant Researcher in October of 2019. Bo leads the Yang Lab research on developing the next-generation immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy for cancer.
Besides research, Bo enjoys traveling and playing with his two sons.
bo.li@ucla.edu
Jie Huang, Lab Manager (2019-Current)
Jie Huang received her B.S. degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the East China University of Science and Technology, her M.S. degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2005, and a second M.S. in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine in 2017. She joined the Yang Lab in January of 2019. Jie manages and assists the Yang Lab research activities.
Besides research, Jie enjoys reading and traveling; she is also technology-obsessed!
jieh@ucla.edu
Postdoctoral Scholars
Charlie Yan-Ruide Li, Postdoctoral Scholar (2021-Current)
Charlie received his B.A. degree in Life Science from Zhejiang University in 2017, and his Ph.D. degree in Immunology from UCLA in 2021. He received his PhD training at the Yang Lab, and his PhD thesis work was on developing iNKT cell-based immunotherapies. After PhD graduation, he continued his postdoctoral training at the Yang Lab, focused on developing a broad pipeline of “off-the-shelf” immune cell therapies for cancer.
Besides research, Charlie enjoys traveling, swimming, and watching movies.
charlie.li@ucla.edu
PhD Students
Derek Lee, PhD Student (2018-Current)
Derek received his B.S. degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of California, Davis in 2013. He then moved to San Diego and worked in the Pharmaceutical Company to develop protein therapeutics. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Immunity, Microbes and Molecular Pathogenesis (IMMP) Home Area at UCLA. He joined the Yang Lab in June of 2018. Derek works on developing γδT cell-based immunotherapies for cancer.
Besides research, Derek enjoys reading, playing board games, and traveling.
ylee932@ucla.edu
Zachary Spencer Dunn, Visiting PhD Student (2021-Current)
Zach graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree from UCR in 2018, where he also investigated protein engineering and played two years of Division 1 soccer. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at USC and joined Dr. Yang’s lab as a visiting graduate researcher in the summer of 2021. At both universities Zach works on improving the solid tumor efficacy of cell therapies.
Besides research, Zach enjoys reading, writing, and playing soccer.
“Coin” Kuangyi Zhou, PhD Student (2022-Current)
Coin received his B.S. degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) from UCLA in 2020, and pursued an M.S. degree in Immunology at Imperial College London from 2020-2021. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Immunity, Microbes and Molecular Pathogenesis (IMMP) Home Area at UCLA. He joined the Yang Lab in Summer of 2022. Kuangyi works on developing “off-the-shelf” cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
Besides research, Coin enjoys calisthenics, skydiving, and scuba diving; he is also an entrepreneur.
James Brown, PhD Student (2022-Current)
James received his B.S. degree in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics from UCLA in 2021. He conducted undergraduate research at the Yang Lab and then was a Staff Research Associate at the Yang Lab in 2021-2022. He is currently a PhD student in the Immunity, Microbes and Molecular Pathogenesis (IMMP) Home Area at UCLA. James joined the Yang Lab as a PhD student in September of 2022, working on the Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) team investigating small-molecule therapies for cancer treatment.
Besides research, James enjoys visiting national parks and reading about evolutionary biology.
Undergraduate Students
Adam B. Kramer, Undergraduate Student (2020-Current)
Adam is an undergraduate student majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) at UCLA. He joined the Yang Lab in January of 2020. Adam works with Charlie Yanruide Li on developing iNKT cell-based immunotherapies for cancer.
Besides research and classes, Adam enjoys cycling, skiing, scuba diving, and hiking.
akramer931@g.ucla.edu
TIFFANY HUSMAN, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT (2020-Current)
Tiffany is an undergraduate student majoring in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology at UCLA. She joined the Yang Lab in March of 2020. Tiffany works with Alice Yang Zhou on developing iNKT-cell based immunotherapies for cancer.
Besides research, Tiffany enjoys painting, playing video games and baking.
AARUSHI BAJPAI, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT (2021-Current)
Aarushi is an undergraduate student majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) with a minor in Biomedical Research at UCLA. She joined the Yang Lab in April of 2021. Aarushi works with Alice Yang Zhou on developing and translating iNKT cell-based immunotherapies for cancer.
Besides research, Aarushi enjoys writing poetry, stargazing, and playing competitive table tennis.
CARL ROSENTHAL, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT (2021-Current)
Carl is an undergraduate majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) at UCLA. He joined the Yang lab in May of 2021. Carl works with Derek on developing γδ T cell based immunotherapies for solid tumors.
Besides research, Carl enjoys cooking, badminton, and macro photography.
XINJIAN CEN, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT (2021-Current)
Xinjian is an undergraduate student majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) at UCLA. She joined the Yang Lab in June of 2021. Xinjian works with Alice Yang Zhou on developing and translating iNKT cell-based immunotherapies for cancer.
Besides research, Xinjian enjoys doing arts and crafts, volunteering, and exploring food places.
MATTHEW WILSON, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT (2021-Current)
Matthew is an undergraduate student majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) at UCLA. He joined the Yang Lab in June of 2021. Matthew works with Charlie Yanruide Li on developing iNKT cell-based cancer immunotherapies.
Besides research and classes, Matthew enjoys volleyball, running, and playing retro video games.
JAMES JOON KIM, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT (2021-Current)
James is an undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG), and Neuroscience at UCLA. He joined the Yang Lab in June of 2021. James works with Zach Dunn on developing new iNKT cell therapies and increasing the persistence of iNKT cells.
Besides research and classes, James enjoys going to the gym, reading books, and visiting new specialty coffee shops in LA, as he himself is a barista.
QUENTIN SCARBOROUGH, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT (2021-Current)
Quentin is an undergraduate student majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) at UCLA. He joined the Yang lab in September of 2021. Quentin works with Dr. Bo Li on developing immune checkpoint blockade therapy for cancer.
Besides research, Quentin enjoys basketball, traveling, and snowboarding.
GRACE NAHHAS, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT (2022-Current)
Grace is an undergraduate student majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology (MCDB). She joined the Yang Lab in June of 2022. Grace works with Zachary Dunn on enhancing CAR iNKT persistence and efficacy with solid tumor models.
Besides research and classes, Grace enjoys reading and drawing.