ABOUT

Dr. Dong is an Assistant Professor in the Precision Health Program and the Department of Radiology in the College of Human Medicine. Her research integrates molecular and cellular biology, immunology, cancer genomics, translational oncology, and molecular epidemiology to elucidate mechanisms driving tumor initiation and evolution, with the ultimate goal of improving cancer diagnosis and therapy. 

She earned her M.D. in Medicine, M.S. in Hematology and Oncology, and Ph.D. in Genetics from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. 

RESEARCH

Dr. Dong investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor development, progression, and metastasis, with a particular emphasis on interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. Her research centers on aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH) as a key biomarker and therapeutic target across multiple malignancies. The lab combines gene editing, 3D co-culture systems, organoids, assembloids, organ-on-a-chip technologies, and spatial multi-omics with diverse biologic platforms spanning extracellular vesicles, oncolytic and engineered viral systems, CAR-based cellular therapies, engineered microbes, and molecular imaging. Together, these approaches are validated in advanced patient-derived and genetically engineered mouse models. The overarching goal is to develop novel targeted and immunotherapeutic strategies.