Designing next-generation genetic medicines through biomaterials and systems immunology

Immunoengineering Gene Therapy Biomaterials Spatial Proteomics
Yining Zhu, Ph.D.

Yining Zhu, Ph.D.

Recognition Schmidt Science Fellows Forbes 30 Under 30 Science Siebel Scholars
Profile Selected publications, honors, education, and talks Research Publications, patents, services, and research moments Teaching Courses, mentorship, and teaching philosophy
Position and training
Current Role

Postdoctoral Fellow, Duke University

I am a Postdoc Fellow in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, working in the laboratory of Dr. John W. Hickey from February 2026, following postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University with Dr. Hai-Quan Mao.

Research focus
Research Focus

Gene Delivery to Systems Immunology

My work connects lipid nanoparticles, genetic medicine delivery, cancer immunotherapy, spatial proteomics, and systems immunology to study immune responses across tissues.

Recognition
Recognition

Fellowships and Honors

I have been recognized as a Schmidt Science Fellow, a Siebel Scholar, and named to Forbes 30 Under 30 - Science, U.S..

Career Timeline Highlight
Selected timeline milestone
2026.05

ASGCT Annual Meeting

Oral presentation at ASGCT on age-related heterogeneity of systemic gene expression in mRNA lipid nanoparticle cancer vaccines.

Career Timeline

Scroll left for earlier milestones
Education & Training
Awards
Talks
Selected Publications
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
B.S., Pharmacy Sichuan University
M.S.E., Biomedical Engineering Johns Hopkins University
Doctoral Board Oral Exam JHU BME PhD Council
Visiting Duke University Duke University
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering Johns Hopkins University
Postdoctoral Associate Johns Hopkins University
Postdoctoral Fellow Duke University
Outstanding Graduates Award Sichuan Province, China
SFB STAR Award Society for Biomaterials
Hans J. Prochaska Award Johns Hopkins University Media
ASGCT Travel Award Gene & Cell Therapy
SFB STAR Award Society for Biomaterials
Siebel Scholar Siebel Foundation Media Forbes 30 Under 30 Science, U.S. Media Schmidt Science Fellow Schmidt Science Foundation Media
SFB Annual Meeting pDNA lipid nanoparticles
SFB Annual Meeting mRNA vaccine immunity
ASGCT Annual Meeting Local immunostimulatory niche
BMES Annual Meeting Biomaterials lymphoid niche
SFB Annual Meeting Extracellular fluid viscosity
SFB Annual Meeting Nanofiber-hydrogel cancer immunotherapy
SFB Annual Meeting Age-related systemic gene expression
ASGCT Annual Meeting Age-related systemic gene expression
Journal of Controlled Release Albumin-biomineralized nanoparticles Nano Letters Shelf-stable DNA particles Nature Communications pDNA lipid nanoparticles Nature Biomedical Engineering LNP modulation of helper T cells Biomaterials Liver gene editing LNPs Nature Chemical Engineering Extracellular fluid viscosity Science Advances Spleen-tropic LNPs Nature Communications Nanofiber-hydrogel cancer immunotherapy Materials Today Imidazolium mRNA LNPs Nature Chemical Engineering Crosslinked mRNA vaccine LNPs