Moutih Rafei | Immunology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Molecular Biologist

Dr. Moutih Rafei | Immunology | Best Researcher Award 

Full Professor | University of Montreal | Canada

Dr. Moutih Rafei is a Full Professor at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology. With extensive expertise in cellular and molecular immunology, he has significantly advanced the fields of immuno-oncology, vaccine engineering, and immune modulation. He earned his Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine from McGill University, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship in Molecular Biology at Université de Montréal, where he later established his own research laboratory. His group focuses on developing novel immune-based therapeutic strategies, several of which are progressing toward clinical application. Dr. Rafei has authored numerous high-impact publications, book chapters, and patents, contributing both to academic knowledge and industrial innovation. His leadership extends to mentoring young scientists and serving as an editor for scientific journals. His work continues to influence immunological research and therapeutic development, addressing complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious conditions.

Professional Profile

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Education

Dr. Rafei completed his B.Sc. Honours in Immunology at McGill University, conducting an honours thesis on Giardia lamblia transmission-blocking DNA vaccines. He pursued his Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine at McGill University, working under the supervision of Dr. Jacques Galipeau on fusokine design as a novel therapeutic strategy for immunosuppression. Following this, he undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at Université de Montréal under Dr. Claude Perreault, where he specialized in innate and classical CD8 T-cell development and maturation. Complementing his scientific training, he also completed a Mini-Entrepreneurship Program at the HEC-Poly-UdeM Entrepreneurship Centre, gaining strategic and managerial skills applicable to biotech ventures. This combination of academic depth and entrepreneurial insight has enabled Dr. Rafei to successfully navigate the interface between fundamental research and its translation into clinical and industrial solutions, shaping his career as both an academic leader and biotech innovator.

Experience

Dr. Rafei holds extensive academic and industrial experience, combining innovative research with strategic leadership in biotechnology. As a Full Professor at Université de Montréal, he leads a dynamic research program focused on immune engineering and translational immunotherapy. His industrial roles include serving as Chief Scientific Officer at Defence Therapeutics, where he oversaw pre-clinical development of oncology and vaccine programs, and Head of Discovery at Medicenna Therapeutics, managing the IL-2 Superkine program currently in clinical trials. He is also the Founder and CEO of Axiom Services Inc., providing consulting and R&D guidance to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. His responsibilities have included directing large-scale pre-clinical studies, preparing regulatory submissions for clinical trials, and presenting research at major international conferences. Through his dual academic and industry roles, Dr. Rafei has successfully bridged fundamental science and applied product development, positioning himself as a key contributor to innovation in immuno-oncology.

Research Interest

Dr. Rafei’s research centers on developing advanced immunotherapies for severe diseases, particularly cancer. His work covers T-cell biology, fusokine engineering, and mesenchymal stromal cell-based vaccines. He has pioneered the design of engineered mesenchymal stromal cells capable of presenting antigens for cancer immunotherapy, developed non-IL1Ralpha-binding IL-2 variants for oncology, and advanced γδ T-cell-based therapeutic platforms. He also leads projects utilizing the proprietary Accum® technology to enhance the targeted delivery of antibody-drug conjugates, cancer vaccines, and infectious disease vaccines. Additionally, his group explores genetic and pharmacological strategies to convert mesenchymal stromal cells into antigen-presenting cells, expanding potential treatments for oncology, autoimmune diseases, and transplantation. Integrating molecular biology, immune engineering, and translational medicine, his research aims to transform fundamental discoveries into effective, scalable, and clinically relevant therapies that address unmet medical needs in immunology.

Awards

Dr. Rafei has received more than twenty awards and recognitions that highlight his exceptional contributions to the fields of immunology and translational medicine. These honors acknowledge his pioneering work in cytokine and fusokine engineering, vaccine development, and mesenchymal stromal cell-based immunotherapies. His ability to integrate molecular innovations into practical clinical applications has earned him recognition in both academic and industrial sectors. Awards have also acknowledged his role as a mentor, fostering the growth of emerging scientists, and his leadership in driving collaborative research across disciplines and borders. His keynote presentations at prestigious international conferences further demonstrate his influence and leadership in the scientific community. The breadth of these awards reflects his sustained commitment to excellence, innovation, and the advancement of immune-based strategies for the treatment of complex and life-threatening diseases.

Top Noted Publications

Dr. Rafei has authored over sixty high-impact peer-reviewed articles, five reviews, two book chapters, one monograph, and holds six patents. His research has been published in leading journals such as Molecular Cancer, Frontiers in Immunology, and Cancer Immunology Research. With a citation index exceeding two thousand, his work has influenced both academic research and industry practices in immuno-oncology. His publications cover diverse topics, including engineered mesenchymal stromal cells for cancer vaccination, cytokine-fusion proteins, and novel delivery systems using the Accum® technology. In addition to original research, he has contributed reviews synthesizing developments in immune-based therapies.

Title: Mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inhibiting CD4 Th17 T cells in a CC chemokine ligand 2-dependent manner – M Rafei, PM Campeau, A Aguilar-Mahecha, M Buchanan, P Williams, et al.

Journal: The Journal of Immunology

Year: 2009

Cited by 462.

Title: Mesenchymal stromal cell–derived CCL2 suppresses plasma cell immunoglobulin production via STAT3 inactivation and PAX5 induction – M Rafei, J Hsieh, S Fortier, MY Li, S Yuan, et al.

Journal: Blood

Year: 2008

Cited by 309.

Title: Cell therapy: types, regulation, and clinical benefits – AEH El-Kadiry, M Rafei, R Shammaa.

Journal: Frontiers in Medicine

Year: 2021

Cited by 238.

Title: Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis – M Rafei, E Birman, K Forner, J Galipeau.

Journal: Molecular Therapy

Year: 2009

Cited by 204.

Title: Nociceptor neurons affect cancer immunosurveillance – M Balood, M Ahmadi, T Eichwald, A Ahmadi, A Majdoubi, et al.

Journal: Nature

Year: 2022

Cited by 200.

Title: A granulocyte-macrophage colony–stimulating factor and interleukin-15 fusokine induces a regulatory B cell population with immune suppressive properties – M Rafei, J Hsieh, S Zehntner, MY Li, K Forner, et al.

Journal: Nature Medicine

Year: 2009

Cited by 170.

Title: Inflammatory monocytes promote progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and can be therapeutically targeted via CCR 2 – K Mojumdar, F Liang, C Giordano, C Lemaire, G Danialou, et al.

Journal: EMBO Molecular Medicine

Year: 2014

Cited by 155.

Title: Characterization of Gaucher disease bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells reveals an altered inflammatory secretome – PM Campeau, M Rafei, MN Boivin, Y Sun, GA Grabowski, et al.

Journal: Blood

Year: 2009

Cited by 112

Conclusion

Dr. Moutih Rafei’s exceptional contributions to immunotherapy, translational science, and biotechnology innovation position him as an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His career demonstrates a rare combination of groundbreaking scientific insight, creative problem-solving, and the capacity to turn laboratory discoveries into impactful therapies. Recognizing his achievements through this award would honor his significant contributions and encourage further advancements that have the potential to transform patient care globally.

Qibin Liao | Immunology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Molecular Biologist

Dr. Qibin Liao | Immunology | Best Researcher Award 

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

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🎓 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:

  • Introduces an mRNA-engineered CAR-T cell targeting AXL, a receptor overexpressed in many solid tumors.

  • Uses a fully human scFv to reduce immunogenicity.

  • 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:

  • Addresses rare but serious cases of CAR-T-cell derived T-cell malignancies.

  • Explores the integration of CAR constructs into oncogenes as a potential risk.

  • 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:

  • Describes M10 CAR-T cells engineered to target HIV-1-infected cells.

  • First-in-human data showed viral suppression and CD4+ T-cell recovery.

  • 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:

  • Reviews current predictive biomarkers (e.g., tumor burden, cytokine profiles, T-cell exhaustion markers).

  • Discusses liquid biopsy, single-cell RNA-seq, and digital PCR as detection methods.

  • 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:

  • Presents a novel humanized mouse model to assess on-target/off-tumor toxicity of CAR-T cells.

  • Demonstrates the importance of tissue-specific antigen expression in predicting adverse effects.

  • 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:

  • Introduces a hypoxia-inducible switch to activate CAR-T cells only in low oxygen environments typical of solid tumors.

  • Reduces systemic toxicity while maintaining anti-tumor efficacy.

  • 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:

  • Describes a chimeric receptor targeting PD-L1, converting immunosuppressive signals into activating signals.

  • Enhances CAR-T function in immunosuppressive microenvironments.

  • Synergistic potential with checkpoint inhibitors.

8. HiCAR for Selective Tumor Killing

Journal: Biomarker Research
Year: 2020
Cited by: 21
Summary:

  • Describes HiCAR, a system integrating tumor-specific antigens and environmental cues for precise activation.

  • Uses dual-input logic for increased specificity and reduced toxicity.

  • 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.