Qiang's cv
Academic CV of Qiang Feng, PhD - Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern Medical Center, specializing in microfluidics, nanotechnology, and cancer therapeutics.
General Information
| Full Name | Qiang Feng, PhD |
| Current Position | Assistant Professor |
| Institution | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
| Department | Biomedical Engineering, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center |
| Languages | English, Chinese |
Summary of Contributions
- My research focuses on the biological cues within the tumor microenvironment that determine the fate and therapeutic efficacy of drugs. By developing multichromatic pH nanosensors with high spatial resolution, he uncovered profoundly polarized extracellular acidity (pHe < 5.3) surrounding tumor cells—over an order of magnitude more extreme than previously recognized (Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2024). Integrating cancer biology, clinical insights, and immune metabolism, he demonstrated that this severe acidity functions as a potent yet underappreciated regulator of drug response and immune suppression, whereas sodium lactate, its anionic counterpart, exerts immune-protective effects (Nature Communications, 2022). These mechanistic insights have enabled the rational design of acidity-targeted immunotherapeutic nanodrugs and metabolism-modulating immune adjuvants to enhance therapeutic precision and efficacy. To date, I have published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals such as Nature Biomed. Eng. and Nature Commun., accumulating over 5,000 citations. I have also filed three patents for my discoveries. In addition to the scientific innovation, I have also mentored students from diverse backgrounds and will continue to train young scientists, providing them with the tools and mentorship to succeed in cancer research.
Education
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2014-2017 PhD in Nanoscience and Technology
National Center for Nano Science and Technology, Beijing, China - Thesis: Microfluidics-mediated Assembly of Functional Nanoparticles for Cancer-related Applications
- Advisors: Profs. Xingyu Jiang and Jiashu Sun
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2012-2014 MS in Pharmaceutics
Peking University, Beijing, China - Thesis: Surface Modified Core-shell Type Nanoparticles for The Co-delivery of Paclitaxel and SiRNA
- Advisor: Prof. Jiancheng Wang
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2008-2012 BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Peking University, Beijing, China
Professional Experience
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2024 - Present Assistant Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States - Leading research in tumor immune metabolism at single cell resolution
- Developing novel nanodrugs and immune adjuvants for cancer therapy
- Mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
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2023 - 2024 Research Scientist
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States - Developed tumor-targeted cytokine therapy with large therapeutic window
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2017 - 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States - Advisor: Prof. Jinming Gao
- Tumor Immune Metabolism: Delineated the spatial and functional heterogeneity of lactic acid
- Cytokine Therapy: Developed tumor-targeted cytokine therapy with large therapeutic window
Research Experience
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2014 - 2017 Graduate Researcher
National Center for Nano Science and Technology, Beijing, China - Advisors: Profs. Xingyu Jiang and Jiashu Sun
- Microfluidics: Developed microfluidic chips for size-controlled fabrication of nanoparticles
- Bio-nano Interactions: Investigated the impact of nanoparticle structure on biological functionalities
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2012 - 2014 Graduate Researcher
Peking University, Beijing, China - Advisor: Prof. Jiancheng Wang
- Drug delivery: Engineered liposomes for tumor targeted delivery of chemotherapy agents and siRNA
Research Interests
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Tumor Immune Metabolism
- Probing metabolite dynamics at the single-cell level.
- Investigating the immunological functions of key metabolites.
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Cancer Immunotherapy
- Acidity-targeted immunotherapy
- Tumor metabolism-regulating immune adjuvants
- Cytokine therapy
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Microfluidics and Nanotechnology
- Microfluidic synthesis of functional nanoparticles
- Strucuture-controlled fabrication of nanoparticles
- Bio-nano interactions and biological functionalities
Selected Publications
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2024 Severely polarized extracellular acidity around tumour cells
Nature Biomedical Engineering - Uncovered severely polarized acidity (pHe<5.3) around tumor cells
- More than one order of magnitude higher than previous understanding
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2022 Lactate increases stemness of CD8+ T cells to augment anti-tumor immunity
Nature Communications - Demonstrated lactate's role in enhancing CD8+ T cell stemness
- Revealed immune-protective role of sodium lactate
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2021 Tumor-Targeted Inhibition of Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 Improves T-Cell Immunotherapy
Advanced Healthcare Materials - Developed MCT1 inhibition strategy for improved immunotherapy
- Enhanced T-cell function in solid tumors
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2019 Transistor-like Ultra-pH-Sensitive Polymeric Nanoparticles
Accounts of Chemical Research - Pioneered ultra-pH-sensitive nanoparticle technology
- Advanced drug delivery systems for cancer therapy
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2017 One-Step Microfluidic Synthesis of Nanocomplex with Tunable Rigidity
Small - Developed microfluidic synthesis of tunable rigidity nanoparticles
- Acid-switchable surface charge for enhanced cellular uptake
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2015 Microfluidic synthesis of rigid nanovesicles for hydrophilic reagents delivery
Angewandte Chemie International Edition - Pioneered microfluidic approach for encapulation of hydrophilic reagents
Honors and Awards
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2022 - Young Investigator Award, 37th Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Annual Meeting
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2016 - Merit Student, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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2015 - Graduate Student Award, Chinese Pharmaceutical Conference
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2013 - Daewoong Scholarship, Peking University
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2011 - Daewoong Scholarship, Peking University
- ShuRen Scholarship, Peking University
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2009 - May Fourth Scholarship, Peking University
- Merit Student, Peking University
Patents
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2015 A Microfluidic Chip and Method of Use Thereof in the Preparation of Nanocapsule
CN104549585B - Chinese patent for microfluidic nanocapsule preparation technology
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2021 pH Responsive Block Copolymer Compositions and Micelles that Inhibit MCT 1 and Related Protein
US20210338579A1 - US patent application for pH-responsive drug delivery systems
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2022 Ultra pH-sensitive Micelles Encapsulating Cytokines for Treatment of Cancer
PCT/US2022/079899 - International patent application for pH-sensitive cytokine delivery
Presentations and Posters
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Oral Presentations
- Immuno-oncology Translational Network Semi-Annual Meeting, Gaithersburg, United States (2023)
- 37th Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer Annual Conference, Boston, United States (2022)
- International Conference of Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, Dalian, China (2016)
- Chinese Pharmaceutical Conference, Hangzhou, China (2015)
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Poster Presentations
- Keystone Symposia Conference Single Cell Biology, Breckenridge, United States (2019)
- ChinaNano 2017, Beijing, China (2017)
- NanoDDS16, Baltimore, United States (2016)
- ChinaNano 2015, Beijing, China (2015)
- ChinaNanomedicine 2015, Hangzhou, China (2015)
Services
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Journal Reviewer
- ACS Applied Materials and Interface
- Theranostics
- Nanoscale
- Trends in Analytical Chemistry
- Journal of Material Sciences B
- International Journal of Nanomedicine
- Scientific Reports
- RSC Advances
- Electrophoresis
- MedChemComm
- Journal of Materials Science & Technology
- Fibers and Polymers
- Advanced Science
- Molecular Cancer
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Guest Topic Editor
- Frontiers in Pharmacology. 'Drug Discovery and Nano Delivery of Natural Products'
- Frontiers in Immunology. 'Decoding the immunotherapy paradox: integrative approaches for balancing efficacy and immunotherapy-associated adverse events'