Li Lily Wang

Li Lily Wang is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine. She is also a Member of the Immune Oncology Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and holds an External Appointment as Associate Staff in Translational Hematology and Oncology Research at the Cleveland Clinic. Her research focuses on defining mechanisms by which immune checkpoint proteins like VISTA regulate anti-tumor immunity, with an emphasis on developing rational therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy. The Wang laboratory investigates epigenetic and metabolic regulations by novel inhibitory receptors on tumor-associated immune cells and mechanisms of resistance in CAR T cell therapies.

Wang's work has been pivotal in demonstrating VISTA's role as a target for cancer immunotherapy, including studies on its regulation of myeloid cells and T cells. Her lab collaborates across disciplines to explore cross-talk between immune checkpoints and tumor microenvironment dynamics. Key projects include identifying novel inhibitory receptors interacting with VISTA and developing nanoparticle-based approaches to target immune checkpoints.

Publications highlight advancements in VISTA's role in autoimmunity, inflammatory diseases, and tumor immunity, with recent work exploring VISTA's metabolic pathways in myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Collaborations span basic and clinical research at Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University, emphasizing translational applications of immune checkpoint discoveries.