A major research interest in Dr. Peng’s group is focused on identifying the roles of different subsets of tumor-infiltrating T cells in the suppressive tumor microenvironments using in vitro with human cells derived from cancer patients, and in vivo in different types of tumor models, including head & neck, lung, colon, breast cancers and melanoma. Another area of interest involves the development of strategies to overcome immunosuppression induced by regulatory tumor-infiltrating T cells and malignant tumor cells for enhanced tumor-immunity and immunotherapy using innate signaling (TLR ligands), metabolic and epigenetic regulations. In addition, the laboratory has been performing translational studies to dissect molecular mechanisms responsible for development of senescence and dysfunction of T cells in different diseases, including cancer, chronic inflammation, and age-related neurological disorders, and then to develop effective strategies for control of T cell fate and function for disease prevention and immunotherapy. 

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