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Contact Details

Phone
+64 21 155 9148
Email
kunyu.li@otago.ac.nz
Position
Research Fellow
Department
Department of Pathology (Dunedin)
Qualifications
PhD
Research summary
Immunotherapies and immunoregulation in chronic diseases
Teaching
Chemical Pathology for 200 and 300 Level MEL course
Memberships
  • 2020: Guest Editor for the Journal of Clinical & Translational Immunology
  • 2020: Cancer Research Institute USA
  • 2020: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation the USA
  • 2020: Gut Health Network, University of Otago
  • 2019: Research Committee, Pathology Department, DSM, University of Otago
  • 2016: Affiliate of the Maurice Wilkins Centre New Zealand
  • 2009: Australia and New Zealand Society for Immunology
Clinical
  • Collaboration with Professor Michael Schultz in IBD research
  • Collaboration with Dr Tamara Mullaney in IBD study

Research

I am an immunologist with a strong background in translational research in cancer immunotherapies, particularly cellular therapy for solid cancers.

My current research primarily focuses on Immunoregulation by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in Chronic conditions, and how dysregulation of immune response could lead to tissue pathology. Cancer and autoimmune diseases are both chronic diseases that share common characteristics of dysregulation of immune responses to self-derived antigens. The finding of my previous research suggests that immune dysregulation in both cases could be closely linked. Thereby studying one could guide us to solve the problems or answer the questions of the other.

I am currently leading research projects in understanding tumour resistance to adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT), overcoming the limitation of ACT through genetic modification of tumour-reactive T cells, and immunoregulation by D133p53 isoform in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

I also have a longstanding interest in using Traditional Chinese Medicine to enhance immunity and treat chronic inflammation. I am currently setting up collaborations with TCM researchers in China.

Additional details

Research support

  • DSM Dean’s Bequest Grant
  • New Zealand Lottery Health Research Grant
  • HRC Explorer Grant

Research projects available for postgraduate students

  • The role of D133p53 isoform in IBD
  • Understanding how tumour resistance to ACT arises
  • ACT using genetically modified T cells in solid cancer

Publications

Wiles, A. K., Mehta, S., Millier, M., Woolley, A. G., Li, K., Parker, K., Kazantseva, M., Wilson, M., Young, K., Bowie, S., Ray, S., Slatter, T. L., Stamp, L. K., Hessian, P. A., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2023). Activated CD90/Thy-1 fibroblasts co-express the Δ133p53β isoform and are associated with highly inflamed rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 25, 62. doi: 10.1186/s13075-023-03040-8

Li, K., Ly, K., Mehta, S., & Braithwaite, A. (2022). Importance of crosstalk between the microbiota and the neuroimmune system for tissue homeostasis. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 11, e1394. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1394

Mehta, S., Campbell, H., Drummond, C. J., Li, K., Murray, K., Slatter, T., … Braithwaite, A. W. (2021). Adaptive homeostasis and the p53 isoform network. EMBO Reports, 22, e53085. doi: 10.15252/embr.202153085

Li, K., Donaldson, B., Young, V., Ward, V., Jackson, C., Baird, M., & Young, S. (2017). Adoptive cell therapy with CD4+ T helper 1 cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells enhances complete rejection of an established tumour, leading to generation of endogenous memory responses to non-targeted tumour epitopes. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 6(10), e160. doi: 10.1038/cti.2017.37

Li, K., Baird, M., Yang, J., Jackson, C., Ronchese, F., & Young, S. (2016). Conditions for the generation of cytotoxic CD4+ Th cells that enhance CD8+ CTL-mediated tumor regression. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 5(8), e95. doi: 10.1038/cti.2016.46

Wiles, A. K., Mehta, S., Millier, M., Woolley, A. G., Li, K., Parker, K., Kazantseva, M., Wilson, M., Young, K., Bowie, S., Ray, S., Slatter, T. L., Stamp, L. K., Hessian, P. A., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2023). Activated CD90/Thy-1 fibroblasts co-express the Δ133p53β isoform and are associated with highly inflamed rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 25, 62. doi: 10.1186/s13075-023-03040-8

Journal - Research Article

Li, K., Donaldson, B., Young, V., Ward, V., Jackson, C., Baird, M., & Young, S. (2017). Adoptive cell therapy with CD4+ T helper 1 cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells enhances complete rejection of an established tumour, leading to generation of endogenous memory responses to non-targeted tumour epitopes. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 6(10), e160. doi: 10.1038/cti.2017.37

Journal - Research Article

Li, K., Baird, M., Yang, J., Jackson, C., Ronchese, F., & Young, S. (2016). Conditions for the generation of cytotoxic CD4+ Th cells that enhance CD8+ CTL-mediated tumor regression. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 5(8), e95. doi: 10.1038/cti.2016.46

Journal - Research Article

Li, K., Peers-Adams, A., Win, S. J., Scullion, S., Wilson, M., Young, V. L., Jennings, P., Ward, V. K., Baird, M. A., & Young, S. L. (2013). Antigen incorporated in virus-like particles is delivered to specific dendritic cell subsets that induce an effective antitumor immune response in vivo. Journal of Immunotherapy, 36(1), 11-19. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0b013e3182787f5e

Journal - Research Article

Tang, R., Li, K., Wilson, M., Both, G. W., Taylor, J. A., & Young, S. L. (2012). Potent antietumor immunity in mice induced by vaccination with an ovine Atadenovirus vector. Journal of Immunotherapy, 35(1), 32-41. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0b013e318238a115

Journal - Research Article

Li, K., Ly, K., Mehta, S., & Braithwaite, A. (2022). Importance of crosstalk between the microbiota and the neuroimmune system for tissue homeostasis. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 11, e1394. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1394

Journal - Research Other

Mehta, S., Campbell, H., Drummond, C. J., Li, K., Murray, K., Slatter, T., … Braithwaite, A. W. (2021). Adaptive homeostasis and the p53 isoform network. EMBO Reports, 22, e53085. doi: 10.15252/embr.202153085

Journal - Research Other

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