Yinan Wang is a scientist at the JAX‑NYSCF Collaborative who leverages induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)–derived immune cells to investigate their therapeutic potential. His work supports The Jackson Laboratory’s mission by advancing research that could lead to a new generation of cell‑based medicines for complex diseases with limited treatment options.
Wang’s research centers on iPSC‑derived natural killer (NK) cells, genomic manipulation tools, advanced cell‑culture techniques and flow cytometry. His team developed a robust system for generating iPSC‑derived NK cells that demonstrated superior efficacy in killing patient‑derived cancer cells, offering promising proof‑of‑concept evidence for future cellular immunotherapies.
He entered the field motivated by the urgent need for innovative treatments for diseases that lack effective therapies. His interest in immune regulation began during his graduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, where he focused on the genetic control of B‑cell immunological memory.
Between 2016 and 2020, Wang served as a postdoctoral researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine, conducting high‑throughput functional genetic screens to uncover novel biological mechanisms. He then joined the New York Stem Cell Foundation as a staff scientist in immunology, where he deepened his expertise in stem cell‑based immunotherapy approaches before transitioning to JAX through the JAX‑NYSCF collaboration.
Wang hopes his work will help lay the scientific foundation for “living drugs”—cell‑based therapeutic strategies capable of reshaping modern medicine.