Assistant Researcher, at Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, China.
Dr. Qibin Liao (b. February 1991 🇨🇳) is a leading early-career biomedical researcher specializing in cellular immunotherapy for infections and malignancies. Currently an Assistant Researcher at Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, affiliated with the Southern University of Science and Technology, he focuses on the development of next-generation CAR-T cell therapies. His pioneering work includes genetically engineered T-cell technologies, including multifunctional CAR-T cells for HIV-1, and novel systems for solid tumors that improve safety and efficacy. Dr. Liao’s contributions have been widely recognized in high-impact journals such as EMBO Molecular Medicine, Biomedicines, and Cell Discovery. 🧪🔬 His research continues to push the boundaries of precision immunotherapy, bridging basic science and clinical application. He has also been awarded substantial national-level research funding and plays critical roles in multiple R&D programs. Through innovative designs and clinical translation, he is reshaping the future of personalized medicine and cancer treatment. 🌍💉
Professional Profile
Scopus
ORCID
🎓 Education
Dr. Qibin Liao began his academic journey at Southern Medical University where he earned a Bachelor of Medicine in Preventive Medicine (2010–2015). His strong foundation in public health and disease prevention laid the groundwork for his later focus on translational immunotherapy. 🚑🧠 He further advanced his training by pursuing a Ph.D. in Medical Systems Biology at Fudan University (2015–2021), one of China’s top-tier research institutions. Here, he honed his expertise in systems-level analysis and experimental techniques related to T-cell engineering and immunological signaling. His doctoral research contributed to the development of hypoxia-inducible CAR-T systems—a novel approach to improve safety and specificity in cancer therapy. 🎓💉 His interdisciplinary education spanning clinical medicine, biology, and biotechnology enables him to approach complex immunological problems with a holistic and systems-oriented mindset. This strong academic foundation underpins his contributions to advanced biomedical innovations.
💼 Professional Experience
Since October 2021, Dr. Liao has served as an Assistant Researcher at Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology. 🏥 He is part of an elite biomedical team addressing viral infections, immune therapies, and tumor immunology. His role includes designing synthetic CAR-T constructs, leading clinical translational research, and supervising junior researchers in immunotherapy development. 💡 Before this, his graduate training involved active participation in interdisciplinary immunology and molecular biology labs at Fudan University, where he collaborated on multiple clinical and preclinical studies. His career is marked by a strategic blend of basic science and applied therapeutic innovation. Dr. Liao also serves as Principal Investigator (PI) and co-leader in several national programs funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and National Key R&D Program, demonstrating both scientific leadership and administrative excellence. 🧪📊
🔬 Research Interests
Dr. Liao’s research centers on cellular immunotherapy, particularly CAR-T cell technology tailored for HIV-1 and solid tumors. 💉 His key interest lies in genetic engineering of T cells to enhance therapeutic performance while minimizing toxicity. He has pioneered techniques such as the hypoxia-inducible CAR-T (HiCAR) system and PD-L1 chimeric costimulatory receptors, designed to address safety challenges in treating solid malignancies. 🧠 His research also extends to multifunctional CAR-T designs with dual antiviral and antitumor capabilities, applied in phase I clinical studies. Dr. Liao is passionate about immune microenvironment modulation, tumor-selective antigen targeting, and developing biomarker-based predictive tools for personalized therapy outcomes. 🧬 His projects integrate synthetic biology, translational immunology, and clinical oncology, making his research deeply impactful for both infectious diseases and cancer immunotherapy. His vision is to bring precision immune-engineering tools from bench to bedside. 🧑🔬🦠
🏆 Awards
🔹 Best Researcher Award Nomination (2025) – Selected for publication in Biomedicines (2025) for innovative CAR-T therapy targeting AXL in solid tumors.
🔹 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) – Youth Science Fund Grant (¥300,000, 2025–2027).
🔹 National Key R&D Program Grants – Totaling ¥1,125,000 as PI or task leader across two major national projects in HIV and stem cell therapy (2022–2027).
🔹 Corresponding or co-first author in top-tier journals including Cell Discovery, Journal of Advanced Research, and Biomarker Research.
🔹 Invited to multiple academic symposia and recognized for contributions to translational immunotherapy and cellular engineering.
These accolades reflect his innovative thinking, scientific rigor, and clinical impact. 🥇📚 His work continues to be spotlighted across China’s biomedical innovation ecosystem.
📚 Top Noted Publications
Dr. Liao has authored/co-authored several impactful publications. Highlights:
1. Novel mRNA-Engineered Fully Human CAR-T Cells Targeting AXL in Solid Tumors
Journal: Biomedicines
Year: 2025
Cited by: 4
Summary:
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Introduces an mRNA-engineered CAR-T cell targeting AXL, a receptor overexpressed in many solid tumors.
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Uses a fully human scFv to reduce immunogenicity.
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Demonstrates promising anti-tumor effects in preclinical solid tumor models, with transient CAR expression for improved safety.
2. Safe CAR-T: Shedding Light on CAR-Related T-cell Malignancies
Journal: EMBO Molecular Medicine
Year: 2025
Cited by: 7
Summary:
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Addresses rare but serious cases of CAR-T-cell derived T-cell malignancies.
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Explores the integration of CAR constructs into oncogenes as a potential risk.
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Discusses safer vector systems and genomic insertion site monitoring.
3. Efficacy and Safety of M10 CAR-T Cells in HIV-1-Infected Patients
Journal: Cell Discovery
Year: 2024
Cited by: 18
Summary:
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Describes M10 CAR-T cells engineered to target HIV-1-infected cells.
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First-in-human data showed viral suppression and CD4+ T-cell recovery.
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Provides early evidence for CAR-T application in chronic viral infections.
4. Biomarkers for Predicting CAR-T Efficacy and Detection Methods
Journal: iLABMED
Year: 2024
Cited by: 6
Summary:
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Reviews current predictive biomarkers (e.g., tumor burden, cytokine profiles, T-cell exhaustion markers).
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Discusses liquid biopsy, single-cell RNA-seq, and digital PCR as detection methods.
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Emphasizes personalized CAR-T strategies using biomarker profiling.
5. Mouse Model for Evaluating CAR-T On-Target Toxicity
Journal: Journal of Advanced Research
Year: 2023
Cited by: 11
Summary:
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Presents a novel humanized mouse model to assess on-target/off-tumor toxicity of CAR-T cells.
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Demonstrates the importance of tissue-specific antigen expression in predicting adverse effects.
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Tool for preclinical safety validation.
6. Hypoxia-Inducible CAR-T Cells (HiTA System)
Journal: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Year: 2021
Cited by: 24
Summary:
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Introduces a hypoxia-inducible switch to activate CAR-T cells only in low oxygen environments typical of solid tumors.
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Reduces systemic toxicity while maintaining anti-tumor efficacy.
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Demonstrates improved safety in vivo with retained tumor-killing activity.
7. PD-L1 Chimeric Receptor Improves Efficacy in Solid Tumors
Journal: Biomarker Research
Year: 2020
Cited by: 27
Summary:
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Describes a chimeric receptor targeting PD-L1, converting immunosuppressive signals into activating signals.
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Enhances CAR-T function in immunosuppressive microenvironments.
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Synergistic potential with checkpoint inhibitors.
8. HiCAR for Selective Tumor Killing
Journal: Biomarker Research
Year: 2020
Cited by: 21
Summary:
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Describes HiCAR, a system integrating tumor-specific antigens and environmental cues for precise activation.
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Uses dual-input logic for increased specificity and reduced toxicity.
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Aimed at improving solid tumor selectivity of CAR-T therapies.
Conclusion
Dr. Qibin Liao is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. His work on CAR-T innovations for both cancer and HIV is pioneering, impactful, and clinically relevant. The blend of scientific innovation, clinical translation, and strong funding/publication record positions him among the top emerging researchers in biomedical science in China.