"Immune-based therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have revolutionized cancer treatment. Despite significant breakthroughs, their effectiveness in treating refractory solid tumors remains limited. One of the key obstacles is the complex and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which renders many solid tumors immunologically “cold” and resistant to immune attack.

The Yang Lab is focused on uncovering how tumor cells and stromal components within the TME modulate immune cell function. A central challenge in this field is receptor deorphanization—the identification of binding partners for uncharacterized surface receptors. To address this, the Yang Lab has developed a powerful screening platform that integrates CRISPR/Cas9-based gene activation (CRISPRa) with high-avidity, bead-based selection. This platform enables the discovery of novel extracellular receptor-ligand interactions, offering promising avenues for the development of next-generation immunotherapies, including new ICIs.

Ongoing projects in the Yang Lab include
Dissecting the mechanisms driving the transformation of immunosuppressive cells within the TME.
Identifying and characterizing novel factors that contribute to the immunosuppressive landscape.
Engineering targeted therapeutics to modulate the TME for safer and more effective cancer treatment.
Through these efforts, the Yang Lab is committed to advancing the frontiers of cancer immunotherapy and improving outcomes for patients with solid tumors."