Ying Zhang

Email：ying.zhang(AT)pku.edu.cn

Research Area:

1. Tumor Immunogenicity and Cancer Immunotherapy

2. Danger Signal Sensing and Innate Immune Regulation

3. T Cell Fate Determination and Antitumor Immunity

4. Inflammatory Cell Death, Integrated Stress Responses, and Immune Homeostasis

5. Novel Mechanisms of Tumor Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling

6. Mechanisms of Inflammatory Diseases and Discovery of Immunotherapeutic Targets

Research Interests

The Zhang Laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying danger sensing, immune activation, and disease pathogenesis. We investigate the functions and regulatory mechanisms of the Gasdermin family of pore-forming proteins in inflammatory cell death, antitumor immunity, and tissue homeostasis. We are also interested in identifying novel regulatory factors and molecular networks that govern innate immunity, adaptive immunity, tumor immunity, and inflammatory responses. By elucidating the key molecular pathways that connect danger sensing, immune activation, and disease progression, we aim to translate fundamental discoveries into innovative therapeutic strategies for cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Selected Publications:

1. Zhang Z*, Zhang Y*, Xia S,Kong Q, Li S, Liu X, Junqueira C, Meza-Sosa KF, Mok TMY, Ansara J,Sengupta S, Yao Y, Wu H, Lieberman J. Gasdermin E suppresses tumour growth by activating anti-tumour immunity. Nature. 2020 Mar;579(7799):415–420. Co-first Author with Equal Contribution.

2.Zhang Y*†, Yeganeh PN*, Zhang HW, Wang SY, Li ZYH, Gu BW, Lee DJ,Zhang ZB, Ploumakis A, Shi M, Wu H, Greer EL, Hide W†, Lieberman J†. Tumor editing suppresses innate and adaptive antitumor immunity and is reversed by inhibiting DNA methylation. Nature Immunology. 2024 Oct;25(10):1858–1870. Co-first Author, †Corresponding Author.

3. Fontana P*, Du G*, Zhang Y*,Zhang HW*, Vora SM, Hu JJ, Shi M, Tufan AB, Healy LB, Xia SY, Lee DJ, Li ZYH, Flores PB, Ru H, Luo HR, Agudo J, Lieberman J, Wu H. Small molecule GSDMD agonism in tumors stimulates antitumor immunity without toxicity. Cell. 2024;187:1–17. Co-first Author.

4. Zhang Y, Kurupati R, Liu L, Zhou XY, Zhang G, Hudaihed A, Filisio F,Giles-Davies W, Xu W, Karakousis GC, Schuchter LM, Xu W, Amaravadi R, Xiao M, Sadek N, Krepler C, Herlyn M, Freeman GJ, Rabinowitz J, Ertl HC. Enhancing CD8⁺ T cell fatty acid catabolism within a metabolically challenging tumor microenvironment increases the efficacy of melanoma immunotherapy. Cancer Cell. 2017 Sep;32(3):377–391.e9.

5. Zhang Y, Xie X, Yeganeh PN, Lee DJ, Valle-Garcia D, Meza-Sosa KF, Junqueira C, Su J, Luo H, Hide W, Lieberman J. Immunotherapy for breast cancer using EpCAM aptamer tumor-targeted gene knockdown. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2021 Mar;118(9):e2022830118.

6. Zhang Z†, Zhang Y†, Lieberman J†. Innate immunity in tumour immunoediting and immunosurveillance. The EMBO Journal. 2025. †Corresponding Author.

7. Cheng L, Wang Y, Zhang Y†. Dying to survive: harnessing inflammatory cell death for better immunotherapy. Trends in Cancer. 2025 Feb 21:S2405-8033(25)00013-5. †Corresponding Author.

8. Cheng L, Zhang Y†. Cell death, IL-1 cytokines, and tumor progression. Cancer Cell. 2025 May 12;43(5):817–819. †Corresponding Author.