Lili Yang lab licenses cell-therapy tech to start-up, receives CIRM TRAN1 award, and publishes two papers in Science Immunology and Nature Communications.
The Yang lab recently published two papers back-in-back on Science Immunology and Nature Communications, reporting the identification of a new immune checkpoint and the repurposing of an old antidepressant for cancer immunotherapy. Details:
- Drug commonly used as antidepressant helps fight cancer in mice
- An old antidepressant helps the immune system fight tumors in mice
The Yang lab also received CIRM TRAN1 award worth $5.9 million supporting the development of an off-the-shelf CAR-iNKT cell therapy for multiple myeloma. Read more: UCLA researchers receive over $10m in CIRM grants to advance cell therapies for melanoma and multiple myeloma.
Additionally, the Yang lab’s off-the-shelf cell therapy technology was licensed by a biotech startup, Appia Bio, for commercial development. The company recently launched with $52 million Series A financing.
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