Minh Ma
Appointment Details
- Priority Area: Advancing STEM Diversity
- Disciplines: Immunology, biochemistry, cancer immunology, cancer immunotherapy, and cancer biology
- Mentor: Dr. Jessie Yanxiang Guo
- Mentor's Disciplines: Cancer biology, cancer metabolism, cancer immunology, and biochemistry
- School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Department: Medicine
About Minh
Dr. Minh T. Ma is an immunologist and cancer immunotherapy researcher with a strong multidisciplinary background spanning basic science, translational research, and industry. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry with a minor in Business and Management from the University of Missouri–Columbia, where her early research focused on molecular cloning, protein purification, and enzyme engineering for environmental applications, including Bacillus thuringiensis spore systems for dioxin degradation. Dr. Ma also gained applied biotechnology experience as a Research Associate in the Biochemistry R&D group at Benson Hill in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Ma obtained her Ph.D. at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School under the supervision of Dr. Dongfang Liu, where she specialized in NK cell biology, tumor immunology, and the development of CAR-NK platforms. Her doctoral work included the use of immunocompetent and humanized mouse models, small molecule screening, viral vector systems, and CRISPR editing to study NK cell infiltration, tumor microenvironment modulation, and therapeutic efficacy of CAR-NK cells in solid tumors.
As a Rutgers Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Jessie Yanxiang Guo’s laboratory at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Dr. Ma will investigate the roles and mechanisms of interferon-epsilon (IFN-ε) in KRAS-driven lung tumorigenesis. Her work will integrate molecular, cellular, and genetically engineered mouse models to uncover new therapeutic strategies in solid cancers, specifically NSCLC, while also contributing to the mentoring of students and trainees. Dr. Ma dedicated part of her PhD training in mentoring the next generation of medical doctors and scientists through programs such as Pathway to Scientist and Undergraduate Summer Research Experience. During her appointment as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, she is committed to advancing STEM diversity by sharing her insights, offering encouragement, and providing essential resources to underprivileged and underrepresented students interested in STEM, including women in science, first-generation college students, and first-generation Americans.