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 centers on exploring the abundance and immunological functions of key metabolites in tumors. By designing multi-chromatic pH nanosensors with high spatial resolution, I uncovered the presence of severely polarized acidity (pHe<5.3) around tumor cells—more than one order of magnitude higher than previous understanding (Nature Biomed. Eng. 2024). - By combining insights from cancer biology, clinical observations, and immune metabolism, I demonstrated that severe acidity is an underestimated immunosuppressor, while sodium lactate, as its anionic counterpart, plays a previously unrecognized immune-protective role (Nature Commun. 2022). I further led the development of multiple acidity-targeted immunotherapy nanodrugs and tumor metabolism-regulating immune adjuvants based on these findings. To date, I have published over 30 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals such as Nature Biomed. Eng. and Nature Commun., accumulating over 4,000 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'