Dr. Lili Yang is Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Yang's appointment at UCLA is associated with the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics (MIMG), the Department of Bioengineering, the Eli & Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research (BSCRC), the Johnsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center (GLMC), and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) at UCLA.
Dr. Lili Yang's research lab at UCLA, the Yang Engineering Immunity Lab (https://www.liliyanglab.com/), studies tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy with a special focus on developing gene and cell-based immunotherapy for cancer. So far Dr. Yang's research has resulted in over 100 publications (in prestigious journals including Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, Science Immunology, Cell, Cell Stem Cell, Cell Reports Medicine, PNAS, J Exp Med, J Clin Invest, etc.), 28 patents, 2 clinical trials, and 2 biotech startups.
In recognition of her scientific achievements, Dr. Lili Yang has received multiple prestigious awards, including a TR35 (Innovators Under 35) Award from the MIT Technology Review Magazine, a Director’s New Innovator (DP2) Award from the National Institute of Health (NIH), a Young Investigator Award from the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), and an Outstanding New Investigator Award from the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT).
Dr. Lili Yang is also widely recognized for her biotech accomplishments. She has been named Women in Biopharma by Endpoints News in 2022, and Top Women in Academic Entrepreneurship by BIOS in 2023.
The Yang Engineering Immunity Lab at UCLA (https://www.liliyanglab.com/) has two active research directions:
1) Identify new immune checkpoints and develop new immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) 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).
Overall, the Yang Engineering Immunity Lab at UCLA has established a strong research platform that supports interdisciplinary studies spanning the areas of immunology, stem cell biology, cancer biology, infection, and gene & cell-based immunotherapy. Please visit the Lab website for details and updates: https://www.liliyanglab.com/.