Dr. Dongfang Liu’s research is primarily focused on the immunobiology of NK and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells. Specifically, Dr. Liu’s research includes studies of the cell biology of immunoreceptors, NK cell biology, immunotherapy, the CAR immunological synapse, HCC, and HIV-specific CTLs in chronic HIV and its related malignancies. We are interested in studying the biology of human cytotoxic lymphocytes using molecular, biochemical, and single molecule imaging strategies. We are applying live cell imaging and biophysical approaches to study the signaling and functions of the immunological synapses (IS) and human lymphocytes dysfunction in chronic infectious diseases such as HIV and HIV-related malignancy. Three specific research projects in Dr. Liu’s lab are:
Project #1: Use NK and CAR-NK cells Immunotherapy for Cancer and Infections
Project #2: Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) Immunological Synapse
Project #3: The Role of Crk in Immune Response