Qing Li | Immunotherapy | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Qing Li | Immunotherapy | Best Researcher Award

Chongqing University, China

Prof. Qing Li is a distinguished researcher and academic whose pioneering contributions in molecular oncology and cancer therapeutics have significantly advanced the understanding of tumor pathogenesis and targeted treatment strategies. His extensive research focuses on elucidating the intricate signaling pathways involved in cancer progression, drug resistance, and immune evasion, with an emphasis on translating molecular insights into clinical applications. Prof. Li has co-authored and led numerous high-impact studies published in leading international journals, showcasing his commitment to bridging the gap between benchside discovery and bedside therapy.Among his major works, Prof. Li has contributed to groundbreaking research uncovering signaling pathways involved in colorectal cancer pathogenesis and targeted therapy, published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. His collaborative study in Experimental Hematology & Oncology revealed how the downregulation of pro-surfactant protein B contributes to the recurrence of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer by activating PGK1-mediated Akt signaling. In Oncogene, he provided critical insights into how hypoxia inhibits ferritinophagy-mediated ferroptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through the USP2-NCOA4 axis, while his work in Drug Resistance Updates explored spatial multi-omics approaches to circumvent drug resistance in gastric cancer, offering valuable directions for improving chemo and immuno-therapeutic responses.Prof. Li’s research also extends to nanomedicine, where he has designed innovative drug delivery systems, such as plumbagin-loaded ZIF-90 nanoparticles, to suppress gastric cancer progression by targeting the YAP1 signaling pathway, a study featured in the Chemical Engineering Journal. His investigations in Advanced Science identified the oncogenic role of SAMD9 in promoting postoperative recurrence of esophageal carcinoma via the MYH9-mediated GSK3β/β-catenin signaling cascade. Furthermore, his contributions to Seminars in Cancer Biology and Molecular Therapy have shed light on epigenetic regulation and immune checkpoint dynamics, particularly emphasizing the prognostic role of PD-L1 P146R in gastric cancer immunotherapy outcomes.Beyond publications, Prof. Qing Li has demonstrated excellence in research leadership through his involvement in special projects aimed at improving scientific and technological innovation capabilities. His funded studies focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which PD-L1 mutations influence immune escape and the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in gastric cancer. His work continues to shape the future of precision oncology, fostering new therapeutic paradigms that enhance patient survival and transform cancer treatment worldwide.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Wang, H., Yang, Y., Zhang, J., Chen, W., Dai, J., Li, C., & Li, Q. (2025). Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing and artificial intelligence for multitargeted drug design for combating resistance in liver cancer. NPJ Precision Oncology.

Che, G., Yin, J., Wang, W., Luo, Y., Chen, Y., Yu, X., Wang, H., Liu, X., Chen, Z., Wang, X., et al. (2024). Circumventing drug resistance in gastric cancer: A spatial multi-omics exploration of chemo and immuno-therapeutic response dynamics. Drug Resistance Updates, 101080.

Song, J., Zhang, J., Shi, Y., Gao, Q., Chen, H., Ding, X., Zhao, M., Zhu, C., Liang, L., Sun, X., et al. (2024). Hypoxia inhibits ferritinophagy-mediated ferroptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via the USP2-NCOA4 axis. Oncogene.

Wu, C., Zhang, G., Wang, L., Hu, J., Ju, Z., Tao, H., Li, Q., Li, J., Zhang, W., Sheng, J., et al. (2024). Spatial proteomic profiling elucidates immune determinants of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Oncogene.

Luo, H., Hu, B., Gu, X.-R., Chen, J., Fan, X.-Q., Zhang, W., Wang, R.-T., He, X.-D., Guo, W., Dai, N., et al. (2024). The miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster drives immune evasion and resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in non-small cell lung cancer. Molecular Cancer.

Mo, Y., Han, Y., Chen, Y., Fu, C., Li, Q., Liu, Z., & Xiao, M. (2024). ZDHHC20 mediated S-palmitoylation of fatty acid synthase (FASN) promotes hepatocarcinogenesis. Molecular Cancer.

Yunmeng Liu | Immunotherapy | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Yunmeng Liu | Immunotherapy | Best Researcher Award

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | United States

Dr. Yunmeng Liu is a highly accomplished biomedical scientist and pharmacologist specializing in the interplay between immunity, metabolism, and cardiovascular health. With a robust academic foundation in molecular biology and integrated biomedical science, Dr. Liu has devoted her career to unraveling the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying hypertension, diabetes, and related cardiovascular complications. She currently serves as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at UAMS, where she leads innovative projects exploring the immune system’s role in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Her research integrates advanced techniques in pharmacology, immunology, and molecular biology to develop new therapeutic strategies for complex chronic conditions.Dr. Liu’s extensive research contributions are reflected in numerous high-impact publications. She has investigated P2X7-mediated activation of CD8+ T cells and their role in promoting salt-sensitive hypertension, providing critical insights into the immune modulation of blood pressure. Her work on interferon gamma pathways enhancing CD8 T cell interactions in hypertension and the stimulation of the Na-Cl co-transporter NCC by CD8+ T cells in distal convoluted tubules highlights the molecular crosstalk between immune cells and renal physiology. She has also explored immune dysregulation connecting type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications, emphasizing how chronic metabolic imbalances influence immune cell behavior and disease progression.Other notable contributions include the role of KATP channel openers in inhibiting lymphatic contractions and lymph flow as a mechanism of peripheral edema, and Eplerenone-mediated attenuation of fibrosis in the contralateral kidney by preventing macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition, which underscore her translational approach bridging basic research and clinical relevance. Additionally, she has advanced knowledge on resident-memory T cell establishment anchoring hypertension in the kidney and the nutrition impact on diabetes and cardiovascular health, reflecting her commitment to holistic understanding of disease mechanisms.Beyond her research, Dr. Liu is deeply engaged in education and mentorship, instructing graduate students in courses such as cell biology, pathologic basis of disease, and pharmacology and therapeutics, while supervising numerous PhD and undergraduate students in cutting-edge biomedical research projects. Her scholarly excellence is recognized through awards, grant funding, and memberships in professional societies including the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and American Association of Immunologists, solidifying her status as a leading expert in immunopharmacology and cardiovascular-metabolic research.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Deck, K., Mora, C., Deng, S., Rogers, P., Rafferty, T., Palade, P. T., Mu, S., & Liu, Y. (2025). Immune dysregulation connecting type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications. Life, 15(8), 1241.

Liu, Y. (2024, May 29). Immune disorders connecting type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications [Preprint].

Benson, L., Deck, K., Mora, C., Guo, Y., Rafferty, T. M., Li, L.-X., Huang, L., Qin, Z., Andrews, J. T., & Liu, Y. (2024, January 9). P2X7-mediated antigen-independent activation of CD8 T cells promotes salt-sensitive hypertension. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex.: 1979).

Benson, L. N., Guo, Y., Deck, K., Mora, C., Liu, Y., & Mu, S. (2023, March 9). The link between immunity and hypertension in the kidney and heart. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 10, 1129384.

Benson, L. N., Liu, Y., Deck, K., Mora, C., & Mu, S. (2022, October 26). IFNγ contributes to the immune mechanisms of hypertension. Kidney360, 3(10), 1234–1246.