Researcher Directory

Academic Appointment

Associate Professor
Department of Medicine
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Research Interests

• Research in the Cao Lab focuses on cancers associated with oncogenic viruses, particularly human papillomavirus and hepatitis B virus. We investigate the molecular mechanisms through which these viruses contribute to tumor development, including viral gene activity and virus-induced genomic alterations. We also examine antitumor immune responses and the mechanisms of immune escape. Building on these insights, we develop targeted therapies, including TCR-engineered T cell therapies, immune-modulating approaches, and rational combination treatments.