Li Wang, Ph.D.  Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 8701 Watertown Plank Road Hematologic malignancy & transplantation program Milwaukee, WI 53226

A postdoctoral fellow position is immediately available in Dr. Li Lily Wang’s laboratory, in the department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. (http://www.mcw.edu/Microbiology/Li-Lily-Wang-PhD.htm)
Research in our laboratory focuses on understanding the immune regulatory functions of immune-checkpoint proteins. Our earlier work has identified a novel immune-checkpoint ligand called “V domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell Activation”, VISTA. We have established that VISTA controls T cell peripheral tolerance and critically regulates anti-tumor immunity. Targeting VISTA enhanced anti-tumor T cell responses and led to the eradication of cancer in preclinical models (1 – 4).

Current research projects in our laboratory are focused on defining the signaling mechanisms of VISTA. We use diverse approaches, including preclinical disease models, ex vivo cellular analyses, and high-throughput screening assays to address the molecular mechanisms whereby VISTA regulates innate and adaptive immunity. We are also committed to discovering novel targets that can be exploited for cancer immunotherapy.
We welcome talented and committed candidates with recent Ph.D. in Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Biology or other relevant branches of biological sciences to join our team. Expertise in working with murine disease models and in using Cellular or Molecular immunological techniques are important.
Interested candidates should contact Dr. Lily Wang, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 53226. WI. Phone: (414) 955-7489 Email: lilywang@mcw.edu.

References:
1. Wang. L., , Rubinstein R, Lines LJ, Wasiuk A, Ahonen C, Guo YX, Lu LF, Gondek D , Wang Y, Fava RA, Fiser A, Almo S and Randolph J. Noelle. (2011) VISTA, a novel Ig-superfamily ligand that negatively regulates T cell responses, J Exp Med. 208(3):577-92. PMC3058578
2. Le Mercier I, Chen W, Lines JL, Day M, Li J, Sergent P, Noelle RJ, Wang L. (2014) VISTA regulates the development of protective anti-tumor immunity. Cancer Research, 74:1933-1944. PMC4116689
3. Wang L, Le Mercier I, Putra J, Chen W, Liu J, Schenk AD, Nowak EC, Suriawinata AA, Li J, Noelle RJ. (2014) Disruption of the immune-checkpoint VISTA gene imparts a proinflammatory phenotype with predisposition to the development of autoimmunity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (41):14846-51
4. Liu J, Yuan Y, Chen W, Putra J, Suriawinata AA, Schenk AD, Miller H, Guleria I, Barth RJ, Huang YH, Wang L (2015) Immune-checkpoint proteins VISTA and PD-1 nonredundantly regulate murine T-cell responses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 112(21):6682-7