Reimagining T Cell Therapy: An Unconventional Path to Universal CAR-T Cells

Reimagining T Cell Therapy: An Unconventional Path to Universal CAR-T Cells

Author: UCTV March 25, 2026 Duration: 59:32
Off-the-shelf immune cell therapies using engineered T cells represent an important direction in cancer treatment. Lili Yang, Ph.D., at UCLA develops an off-the-shelf platform based on invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells generated from hematopoietic stem cells, often sourced from cord blood. Yang programs these stem cells with iNKT cell receptors, chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), and genes such as IL-15 to create pure, expandable iNKT products that recognize lipid antigens presented by non polymorphic CD1d molecules. These cells combine multiple killing mechanisms, infiltrate tissues, target tumor cells and immunosuppressive myeloid cells, and show reduced risk of graft versus host disease and cytokine release syndrome in preclinical models. Yang’s group tests this strategy in models of blood cancers and solid tumors, aiming to generate many therapeutic doses from a single donor. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40846]

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Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

University of California Video Podcasts (Video)
Podcast Episodes
PET-Directed Radiation for Oligometastatic Disease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:20
As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Will Chen discusses PET-directed radiation for Oligometastatic Disease. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 415…
Prostate Cancer: Diet and Exercise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:51
As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Stacey Kenfield, ScD, discusses diet and exercise. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41555]
Sexual Health for People with IDD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:56
As part of the 2026 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Robin Wilson-Beattie, Disability and Sexual and Reproductive Health Educator, discusses sexual health. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Me…
Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:18
As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Julian Hong discusses radiation therapy. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41551]
The Causes of Autism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:54
Understanding the causes of autism matters for families, public health, and public trust in science. Jonathan Sebat, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains what research actually shows about the causes of autism and how scientist…
Prostate Cancer: Biochemical Recurrence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:49
As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Peter Carroll discusses biochemical recurrence. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41556]