At the Gao Lab, we study the tumor ecosystem with a focus on three major themes:
•    The heterogeneity of the immune landscape
•    Mechanisms of therapeutic resistance
•    The role of tumor–host interactions in cancer metastasis
Our work aims to uncover why treatment resistance and distant recurrence occur in solid tumors, with a special emphasis on breast cancer.

Our discoveries so far include showing how myeloid cell heterogeneity contributes to immunotherapy resistance and revealing how the bone microenvironment shapes breast cancer bone metastasis.

Current projects in the lab:
1.    Exploring how neutrophil interferon-stimulated genes regulate the tumor immune microenvironment and response to immunotherapy.
2.    Mapping the immunosuppressive ecosystems that support breast cancer metastasis in major organs, including bone, lung, liver, and brain.
3.    Identifying new mechanisms that drive therapeutic resistance in metastatic disease.

To tackle these questions, we use cutting-edge technologies, including spatial transcriptomics, single-cell multi-omics, tumor immunology, and in vivo genetically engineered mouse models. By bringing these approaches together, we strive to generate insights that will translate into better therapies and improved outcomes for patients.