Jinming Gao

Jinming Gao is a Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, holding joint appointments in Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, Otolaryngology, and Pharmacology. He leads the Gao Lab, a multidisciplinary research group focused on developing nanotechnologies for cancer diagnosis and immunotherapy.

His research centers on tumor metabolism, particularly the role of tumor acidosis in immune suppression, and the development of 'OFF-to-ON' nanosensors and nanotherapeutics. Key innovations include the pH transistor nanoprobe (Pegsitacianine), which has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation, and a STING-activating nanoparticle currently in first-in-human trials.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in leveraging tumor microenvironment signals—especially pH and metabolic byproducts—to design smart nanomaterials for imaging, surgery, and immune activation. His work bridges chemistry, materials science, immunology, and clinical oncology, with a clear trajectory toward translational impact.

• NCI Outstanding Investigator Awardee
• FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Pegsitacianine

Dr. Gao advises a team of postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and research assistants, and his lab receives significant grant support from the National Cancer Institute and other federal and private sources. His collaborative work includes partnerships with institutions like NCI and IOTN Centers.

The Gao Lab actively develops immune-engineering strategies to enhance both innate and adaptive immunity, with ongoing projects focused on STING pathway modulation, lactate signaling in T cells, and polycarbonate-based nanocarriers for improved drug delivery.