Lab Members

Cassian Yee, M.D.
Principal Investigator
Professor, Melanoma Medical Oncology
Professor, Immunology
Director, Solid Tumor Cell Therapy
Co-Director, Adoptive Cellular Therapy Platform
Scientific Director, Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility
CYee@MDAnderson.org

Dr. Yee is a professor in Melanoma Medical Oncology and Immunology, Co-Director of the Adoptive Cellular Therapy Platform and Director of Solid Tumor Cell Therapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center.  He received his medical training in Canada, residency at Stanford and fellowship at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigators, recipient of Clinical Translational Scientist Award from Burroughs Wellcome Fund,  CPRIT Clinical Investigator award, co-Leader of the Stand Up to Cancer-American Association for Cancer Research/Cancer Research Institute  Immunotherapy Dream Team and Member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. 

Over the last 20+ years, Dr. Yee has pioneered a form of ACT, known as Endogenous T Cell (ETC) therapy, using peripheral blood to generate antigen-specific memory T cells for the treatment of patients with cancer. His lab has performed several seminal first-in-human studies using a well-defined, uniform population of ex vivo expanded antigen-specific T cells to delineate the requirements for effective immune-based therapies. He is corresponding or lead author in more than 80 publications, many in top-tier journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Science, Science Immunology, Science Translational Medicine, Nature Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Gastroenterology and Cancer Immunology Research. He holds more than 15 worldwide patents on ex vivo generation of antigen specific T cells, memory reprogramming and antigen discovery and seeks to extend immunotherapy-based cancer treatments globally. His work converges multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches in bioengineering, metabolism,  molecular immunology and cellular biology to develop effective immunotherapy strategies and adoptive cellular therapy, in particular,  as a treatment modality for patients with malignant diseases.

Junmei Wang, Ph.D.
Instructor
JWang17@MDAnderson.org

Junmei received her Ph.D. in immunology from Columbia University in New York City in 2010 and joined the Yee Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in 2014. Her research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of IL-21-promoted human memory CTL differentiation and exploring strategies to improve the efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy. Outside work, Junmei enjoys walking and spending time with her family.
 

Shailbala Singh, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
SSingh1@MDAnderson.org

Shail completed her B.V.Sc (DVM equivalent) from India in 2003 and received her Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology from Texas A&M University in 2009. Her doctoral research focused on characterizing the response of avian memory T lymphocytes to Avian Influenza Virus. She joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a post-doctoral fellow and conducted research in mucosal immunity and investigated prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination approaches to target viral and bacterial mucosal pathogens such as HIV, HPV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She joined the Yee Lab in 2016 where she established the immune-monitoring and mouse xenograft model program. Currently, Shail functions as a staff scientist and laboratory manager for the Yee Lab. She leads several strategic collaborations in the Yee Lab with both academic and industry partners. She also manages the operations of the Yee Lab and is actively involved in the training of lab personnel. Shail’s non work related interests include exploring microbreweries, volunteering and occasional baking.

Ke Pan, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
KPan@MDAnderson.org

Dr. Ke Pan received his Ph.D. in biological engineering from South China Agriculture University in 2006. He finished his postdoctoral training at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in 2008. He was an instructor and assistant professor at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center until 2014. In 2014, he moved to MD Anderson Cancer Center and joined the Yee Lab. His current research project focuses on tumor antigen MHC/peptide identification, T cell generation with ETC workflow, as well as TCR-T development for the cancer patient treatment. Outside work, Ke enjoys artist writing, music and traveling with his family.

Dan Galvan, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
DLGalvan@MDAnderson.org

Dan received his B.S. degree from the University of Iowa, M.S. degree from Southern Illinois University, and Ph.D. degree from Loyola University Chicago. His post-graduate work has utilized biochemical and molecular biological approaches to address hypotheses in a variety of physiological systems. He has identified key protein determinants in the assembly and ion permeation of intracellular calcium release channels. He has revealed integral players involved in the dysfunction of mitochondria and their role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease. He has elucidated integration site preferences of the piggybac transposase and demonstrated its potential use in modifying lymphocytes for application in T-cell therapy. He joined the Yee laboratory in 2021 and is currently investigating how costimulatory molecule modulation may be applied toward T-cell therapies. Outside the laboratory Dan enjoys participating in recreational soccer and supports the game through his participation as a soccer referee for youth and adults.

Yulun Chiu, Ph.D.
Senior Computational Scientist
YChiu@MDAnderson.org

Yulun received his Ph.D. degree from University of Georgia in 2015 and joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a bioinformatician. His current research project focuses on epitope discovery and identification by using mass spectrometry and multi-omics approach. In his spare time, Yulun enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.

Kapil Saxena, M.D.
Fellow
KSaxena@MDAnderson.org

Kapil received his M.D. from Baylor College of Medicine in 2016, during which time he worked on novel models of enteric viral infection. After completing residency in internal medicine at UCSF, he returned to Houston to pursue fellowship in hematology/oncology at MD Anderson. He joined the Yee Laboratory in 2020 and is focusing on endogenous T cell therapy applications for acute leukemias.  He used to be an avid rock climber until he came back to Houston in 2019 and developed a fear of heights.

Rishi Surana, M.D., Ph.D.
Fellow
RSurana@MDAnderson.org

Rishi received his B.S. degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Georgetown University. His graduate school studies focused on the role of IL-4 in the tumor microenvironment and its impact on the therapeutic efficacy of tumor targeted antibody therapy. He completed his internal medicine residency at Oregon Health and Science University and is currently a hematology/oncology fellow at MD Anderson. He joined the Yee Lab in in 2021 and is working to improve the clinical efficacy of adoptive T-cell therapies in part by reprograming T-cells to adopt a memory-like phenotype. Outside work, Rishi enjoys learning how to garden and spending time outdoors.

Priscilla Ortiz, B.S.
Research Assistant II
POrtiz1@MDAnderson.org

Priscilla graduated from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas with a B.S. in biology and minor in criminal justice. She joined the Yee Lab in 2015 as a Research Assistant helping on various projects, handling logistics and maintaining lab supplies.  Her expertise lies in generating antigen specific T-cells and flow cytometry. Currently, Priscilla is taking part in a cross-disciplinary epidemiological study of COVID-19 immunity of MD Anderson employees. In her free time Priscilla enjoys hiking, wilderness backpacking and landscape photography. 

Yating Li, B.S.
Graduate Research Assistant
YLi53@MDAnderson.org

Yating received her Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Singapore in 2016. She joined the Yee Lab as a master's student in 2018 and continued as a Ph.D. student in 2020. Her research project focuses on the antigen presentation by dendritic cells and aims at exploring novel strategies to improve T cell priming. Outside lab, she is a proud fur mom with a toy poodle named ‘Noodle’.

Paul Hung, B.S.
Graduate Research Assistant
SHung@MDAnderson.org

Paul received his B.S. degree in animal science and technology from the National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan in 2017. Prior to joining the graduate school in 2019, he worked at the Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan as a research assistant where he generated therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting solid tumor antigens through phage-displayed technique. Currently, Paul is a graduate student in the Yee Lab and focuses on adoptive cell therapy and the understanding the interaction between immune system and tumor cells in order to improve T cell therapy. During his leisure time, Paul enjoys coffee brewing, jogging and traveling.

Ivy Lai, B.S.
Biologics Manufacturing Manager
IPLai@MDAnderson.org

Ivy graduated from the University of Washington (Seattle, WA) with a B.S. degree in Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology.  She joined the Yee Lab in 2007 as a Clinical Cell Therapy Technician at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center where she took part in the first clinical cell sort of antigen specific T cells.  She moved to Houston in 2013 and started her role as Lab Manager of the Yee lab where she led the lab formation after relocation from FHCRC; she manages the daily clinical and research operations. Ivy is knowledgeable in cGLP, cGMP and cGTP rules and regulations as well as standards per FDA guidelines set up by FACT, CAP and CLIA.  Currently, Ivy has transitioned to the role of Biologics Manufacturing Manager in the Department of Biologics Development, where she will manage the production of clinical products not only for the Yee lab but for new collaborations within MD Anderson and Biotech companies specializing in T cell therapy.  During her free time, Ivy manages the Houston Seahawks Fans group and is a huge foodie.

Macrina Melendrez, B.S.
Biologics Manufacturing Assoc III
MMelendrez@MDAnderson.org

Macrina received her B.S. degree from University of Houston in 2013 and joined MD Anderson in February 2014 as a Tissue Procurement Specialist.  In 2015 she transferred over to the Yee Lab as a Clinical Cell Therapy Technician working with different clinical trials using cell therapy to treat different types of cancer. Macrina’s main interest beyond work is running and she recently picked up photography as a hobby.

Rebecca Shaw, B.S.
Biologics Manufacturing Assoc III
RMShaw@MDAnderson.org

Rebecca received her B.S. degree in Bioengineering from Rice University in 2016. Later that year, she joined the Yee Lab as a Clinical Cell Therapy Associate where she worked on generating antigen-specific T cells in support of Endogenous T Cell Therapy based clinical trials. In 2020, she transferred to the Biologics Development platform within MD Anderson’s Therapeutics Discovery division to continue working on ETC and other types of biologic therapies. Outside work, Rebecca enjoys rock climbing and traveling to national parks to go hiking and camping.

Erica Lawson, B.S.
Biologics Manufacturing Associate II
EJLawson@MDAnderson.org

Erica received her B.S. from Texas State University in 2010. She worked as a Research Assistant at MD Anderson in the Cancer Biology Department from 2010-2015. She began in Dr. Isaiah Fidler’s Metastasis Research Laboratory studying the biology and therapy of brain cancer metastasis before joining Dr. Raghu Kalluri’s Laboratory and researching the impact of fibrosis and tumor microenvironment contributions on cancer progression and metastasis. In 2015, she joined Dr. Berislav Zlokovic’s Neuroscience Laboratory of the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the University of Southern California. At USC, she developed a hiPSC-derived brain-on-a-chip microfluidic model of the blood-brain barrier to study the influence of rare AD genetic mutations on BBB dysfunction. She returned to Houston and joined Dr. Cassian Yee’s team in 2020 as a Clinical Cell Therapy Associate employing his unique adoptive cellular therapy method to manufacture T cells for immunotherapy. She is now a part of the Cell Therapy Manufacturing Platform of the Biologics Development Division. On the weekends, Erica enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors with her family.

Farah Hasan, Ph.D.
Current: Regeneron

Yongming Xue, Ph.D.
Current: Immunotech Biopharm

Roy Mulpur, M.S.
Current: Emory University, Graduate Studies