معرفی
Professor Xiaojing Ma is a tenured faculty member at Weill Cornell Medicine's Graduate School of Medical Sciences, serving in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. His research focuses on tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, particularly studying UBR5 E3 ubiquitin ligase in breast and ovarian cancers.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, Beijing Agricultural University, China (1982)
- PhD in Molecular Genetics, University of Edinburgh, UK (1987)
Research Interests:
Professor Ma's laboratory conducts cutting-edge research in tumor immunology using animal models of breast and ovarian cancers. His work centers on understanding the mechanisms of immunosuppression in cancer and developing novel targets for cancer immunotherapy. A major focus is the UBR5 pathway, a HECT domain E3 ubiquitin ligase that acts as a cross-cancer regulator of tumorigenesis and anti-tumor immunity. His team explores UBR5's immunological role in identifying neoantigens for cancer vaccine development and investigates molecular degraders of UBR5 via PROTAC technology for therapeutic applications.
Current Research Projects:
- Identification of UBR5's E3 ligase substrates and interacting protein partners
- Discovery of tumor-associated antigens in UBR5-deficient tumors for cancer vaccine development
- Investigation of UBR5's immunoregulatory activities on myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment
- Exploration of UBR5's role in T cell lineage development and tumor immunity
- Development of molecular degraders targeting UBR5 via PROTAC technology
Research Trends:
Professor Ma's research spans cancer immunotherapy, tumor immunology, and molecular oncology, with particular emphasis on ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathways. His work bridges basic science discoveries in molecular immunology with translational applications in cancer treatment, focusing on developing novel immunotherapeutic strategies against aggressive and therapy-resistant malignancies.
Professional Affiliations:
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine
- Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis Program
Laboratory Focus:
The Ma laboratory employs state-of-the-art technologies and experimental strategies to explore the pathophysiology and immunobiology of UBR5, an enigmatic molecule with significant clinical potential. The lab's research aims to bring immediate clinical benefits to patients with highly aggressive and therapy-resistant cancers through immune activation and generation of T cell memories for long-term immunosurveillance against cancer recurrence.
