Dr. Yibin Deng

The Deng lab utilizes cutting-edge techniques, including conditional gene knock-out/knock-in, genome editing technology (CRISPR-Cas9), X-ray crystallography/Cryo-EM, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven therapeutic drug discovery platforms. Their translational research program aims to address three primary objectives:

• Use genetically engineered mouse models to determine whether and how the genetic changes identified in cancer patients contribute to tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis
• Use and resolve protein structures to discover therapeutic drugs, including small molecular compounds, mini-proteins, and fully human mini-antibody-V_H domain, to selectively target human cancer cells while sparing normal cells
• Apply AI-designed and experimental validated de novo mini-proteins or V_H domain to engineer immune cells (T and NK cells) and develop immune cell engagers to effectively eliminate cancer cells by enhancing anti-tumor immunity