Dr. Peng Li is a Specially Appointed Associate Professor at the Institute of Cell and Gene Technology, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Immunology) from Jinan University. After completing his doctoral studies, he continued his research at the School of Basic Medical Sciences and Public Health, Jinan University, focusing on T-cell–mediated anti-tumor immune responses. His current research centers on elucidating the mechanisms and functions by which nutritional and metabolic molecules regulate T-cell anti-tumor immunity, with a particular emphasis on the clinical translational potential of γδ T cells. Dr. Li has been the principal investigator for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program), the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Joint Fund of Province and City), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. He has also participated in several national and provincial-level research projects. In recent years, he has published 11 papers as first author, corresponding author, or co-author in internationally recognized journals, including Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, Gut Microbes, Theranostics, Immunology, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Science Bulletin. He also serves as a reviewer for JITC, Advanced Science, Clinical and Translational Medicine, and Cell Communication and Signaling.

1. Mechanisms by which nutritional and metabolic molecules regulate T-cell–mediated anti-tumor immune responses

2. Clinical translational research on γδ T cells

3. Development of CAR-T cell therapeutic strategies based on nutrient-sensing signaling

Education Background

2015.09 – 2021.06 Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Immunology), Jinan University, Supervisor: Prof. Yunfei Gao

2011.09 – 2015.06 B.Sc. in Bioengineering, Hubei Enshi College, Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Yifeng Zhou

Professional Experience

2025.10 – Present: Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Institute of Cell and Gene Technology, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology

2021.10 – 2025.09: Postdoctoral Fellow in Basic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Public Health / Zhuhai Hospital of Jinan University, Co-supervisor: Prof. Zhinan Yin

2015: Outstanding Bachelor’s Thesis Award, Department of Education of Hubei Province, China.

Research Projects:

1. National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program), Grant No. 32300728, 2024.01.01–2026.12.31, RMB 300,000, Principal Investigator, ongoing.

2. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Joint Fund of Province and City, Youth Program), Grant No. 2022A1515110416, 2022.10.01–2025.09.30, RMB 100,000, Principal Investigator, completed.

3. China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (General Program), Grant No. 2022M713670, 2022.07.01–2023.12.31, RMB 80,000, Principal Investigator, completed.

4. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Foshan Regional Cultivation Project), 2025.01.01–2027.12.31, RMB 300,000, Key Member, ongoing.

5. National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), Grant No. 32270950, 2023.01.01–2026.12.31, RMB 540,000, Participant, ongoing.

6. National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), Grant No. 32170709, 2022.01.01–2025.12.31, RMB 580,000, Participant, ongoing.

7. National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program), Grant No. 31801179, 2019.01.01–2021.12.31, RMB 270,000, Participant, completed.

8. National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), Grant No. 31770964, 2018.01.01–2021.12.31, RMB 600,000, Participant, completed.

Selected Publications:

1. Peng Li#, Xinhai Zhu#, Guangchao Cao#, Ruan Wu, Ke Li, Wenhui Yuan, Biyun Chen, Guodong Sun, Xichun Xia, Hua Zhang, Xiao Wang, Zhinan Yin*, Ligong Lu*, Yunfei Gao*. 1α,25(OH)2D3 reverses exhaustion and enhances antitumor immunity of human cytotoxic T cells. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2022, 10(3): e003477. (First author, IF=10.6).

2. Peng Li#,*, Ke Li#, Wenhui Yuan#, Yuqi Xu, Ping Li, Ruan Wu, Jingru Han, Zhinan Yin*, Ligong Lu*, Yunfei Gao*. 1α,25(OH)2D3 ameliorates insulin resistance by alleviating γδ T cell inflammation via enhancing fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 expression. Theranostics. 2023, 13(15): 5290-5304. (First author/Co-corresponding author, IF=13.3).

3. Xinhai Zhu#, Ke Li#, Guichao Liu#, Ruan Wu, Yan Zhang, Siying Wang, Meng Xu*, Ligong Lu*, Peng Li*. Microbial metabolite butyrate promotes anti-PD-1 antitumor efficacy by modulating T cell receptor signaling of cytotoxic CD8 T cell. Gut Microbes. 2023, 15(2): 2249143. (Corresponding author, IF=11.0, ESI Highly Cited Paper).

4. Ke Li, Eying Lu, Qian Wang, Ruirong Xu, Wenhui Yuan, Ruan Wu, Ligong Lu*, Peng Li*. Serum vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of γδ T cell exhaustion in HBV-infected patients. Immunology. 2024, 171(1): 31-44. (Corresponding author, IF=5.0).

5. Dongdong Zhang#, Guichao Liu#, Jinhui Ye#, Ke Li, Guojun Zhang, Qiang Quan*, Xinhai Zhu*, Peng Li*. Low-exhaustion peripheral circulating γδ T cells serve as a biomarker for predicting the clinical benefit rate of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to chemotherapy or targeted therapy: a single-center retrospective study. BMC Cancer. 2025; 25 (178). (Corresponding author, IF=3.4)。

6. Guichao Liu#, Qiang Quan#, Lanhong Pan#, Haibo Duan#, Guojun Zhang, Ke Li, Xinhai Zhu*, Dongdong Zhang*, Peng Li*, Jianfu Zhao*. Retinoic acid enhances gammadelta T cell cytotoxicity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by reversing immune exhaustion. Cell Communication and Signaling. 2025, 23(1):156. (Co-corresponding author, IF=8.9).

7. Peng Li#, Ruan Wu#, Ke Li#, Wenhui Yuan, Chuqian Zeng, Yuting Zhang, Xiao Wang, Xinhai Zhu, Jianjun Zhou, Ping Li*, Yunfei Gao*. IDO inhibition facilitates antitumor immunity of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in triple-negative breast cancer. Frontiers in Oncology. 2021, 11: 679517. (First author, IF=3.3).

8. Peng Li#, Wenhui Yuan#, Ruan Wu, Chuqian Zeng, Ke Li*, Ligong Lu*. Androgens in patients with Luminal B and HER2 breast cancer might be a biomarker promoting anti-PD-1 efficacy. Frontiers in Oncology. 2022, 12: 917400. (First author, IF=3.3).

9. Xichun Xia#, Guangchao Cao#, Guodong Sun#, Leqing Zhu, Yixia Tian, Yueqi Song, Chengbin Guo, Xiao Wang, Jingxiang Zhong, Wei Zhou, Peng Li, Hua Zhang, Jianlei Hao, Zhizhong Li, Liehua Deng*, Zhinan Yin*, Yunfei Gao*. GLS1-mediated glutaminolysis unbridled by MALT1 protease promotes psoriasis pathogenesis. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2020, 130(10): 5180-5196. (Co-author, IF=13.6).

10. Hua Zhang#, Guodong Sun#, Xiaowei Li, Zhen Fu, Chengbin Guo, Guangchao Cao, Baocheng Wang Qian Wang, Shuxian Yang, Dehai Li, Xichun Xia, Peng Li, Jing Zhu, Wei Zhou, Liangyan Zheng, Jingxia Li, Lei Zhang, Jianlei Hao, Libing Zhou, Frederic Bornancin, Zhizhong Li*, Zhinan Yin*, Yunfei Gao*. Inhibition of MALT1 paracaspase activity improves lesion recovery following spinal cord injury. Science Bulletin. 2019, 64(16): 1179-1194. (Co-author, IF=21.1).

11. Xichun Xia, Wei Zhou, Chengbin Guo, Zhen Fu, Leqing Zhu, Peng Li, Yan Xu, Liangyan Zheng, Hua Zhang, Changliang Shan, Yunfei Gao*. Glutaminolysis Mediated by MALT1 Protease Activity Facilitates PD-L1 Expression on ABC-DLBCL Cells and Contributes to Their Immune Evasion. Frontiers in Oncology. 2018; 8: 632. (Co-author, IF=3.3).

Patents:

1. Yunfei Gao, Peng Li, Zhinan Yin, Xiao Wang, Ruan Wu. Application of Vitamin D Receptor and Its Ligands in Enhancing Anti-Tumor Capacity of Immune Cells, granted on June 11, 2021, China, Patent No. ZL201910861612. (Invention patent).

2. Yunfei Gao, Zhinan Yin, Peng Li, Liangyan Zheng. Application of Vitamin D3 or Its Active Form 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ in Suppressing PD-1 Expression, granted on July 27, 2021, China, Patent No. ZL201711248940. (Invention patent).