Tuoqi Wu, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Immunology, has been named a Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old STAR. The award marks the first time a UT Southwestern faculty member has received this recognition.

Named in honor of CRI’s founding Scientific and Medical Director, the STAR (Scientists TAking Risks) program recognizes midcareer researchers who embody the pioneering spirit of immunotherapy progress. Dr. Wu is among five scientific leaders in the 2025 class, all pushing the boundaries of cancer immunotherapy through paradigm-shifting research.

“Each of these researchers brings fearless curiosity and a willingness to challenge assumptions – the very qualities that drive breakthroughs,” said CRI CEO Alicia Zhou, Ph.D. “They aren’t just advancing cancer science; they’re reinventing it.”

To date, 37 scientists from 25 academic research institutions in 10 U.S. states, Australia, China, Israel, Italy, and Switzerland have been named CRI STARs, with more than $46 million invested.

Dr. Wu will receive $1.25 million in unrestricted funding over five years for high-risk, high-reward research projects.

“As an immunologist dedicated to advancing cancer immunotherapy, this recognition not only acknowledges the impact of my research, but also provides crucial support to propel my work forward,” said Dr. Wu, who is also a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The funding will enable me to explore innovative approaches within the next generation of cancer immunotherapy, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective treatments.”

Dr. Wu is working to improve chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy that uses a patient’s own T cells to fight cancer. Though promising for some cancers, the therapy hasn’t been as effective for cancers impacting older patients, who often have T cells that are more prone to exhaustion and less fit for the demands of treatment.

“We are particularly excited about this project because it tackles two major barriers in CAR T-cell therapy: T-cell exhaustion and T-cell aging. These challenges are especially relevant in the treatment of solid tumors and in older patients, whose immune systems are often less responsive,” Dr. Wu said.

Dr. Wu and his team are focusing on a subset of T cells that resemble stem cells, appear “young,” and more vigorously fight cancer during immunotherapy. By identifying the proteins that control this stem-like state, the Wu Lab has engineered CAR T cells with chemical “switches” to control when and how these stem-cell-like activities are turned on.

“Our novel strategy uses a tunable chemical switch to control CAR T cells, enabling the development of ‘smart’ CAR T cells that can adapt to both intrinsic cellular demands and the external environment while also minimizing the risk of malignant transformation,” Dr. Wu explained.

The lab’s programmable CAR T cells can be optimized for a larger population of cancer patients – including elderly individuals.

“We aim to apply our understanding of the molecular circuitry that governs antitumor immunity and the immune aging of T cells to develop more effective CAR T-cell therapies for cancer patients,” he said.

After earning bachelor’s degrees in biotechnology and computer science from Peking University in Beijing, Dr. Wu completed a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from Emory University. He served as a visiting fellow at the National Institutes of Health and then as an Assistant Professor of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine before joining the UTSW faculty in 2021.

“I’m deeply grateful for the stimulating and collaborative environment fostered by UT Southwestern and the Simmons Cancer Center,” Dr. Wu said. “I’m especially thankful for the dedication, creativity, and hard work of my team. We are looking forward to establishing new collaborations and advancing to new frontiers in cancer research.”