Yuka Nakao, BS

I graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in biological science, where I explored microbiology, immunology, and cell biology through internships and labwork. As a junior, I joined Dr. Yoko Yamakoshi’s lab at the University of Pennsylvania, characterizing LDL-based nanoparticles for early atherosclerosis detection using NMR, which led to my first co-authored publication. I then worked in Dr. Aristotelis Astrinidis’s lab on Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, presenting my work at Discovery Day. Following graduation, I worked as a research technician in Dr. Kyoko Hayakawa’s lab at Fox Chase Cancer Center, investigating the progression of mantle cell lymphoma-like neoplasia in aged mice using transgenic models—research that culminated in another first-author publication in The Journal of Immunology. To broaden my molecular and cell biology skills, I joined Dr. Koichi Yamamoto’s lab at Osaka University before moving to Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in Kyoto. There, I initiated and developed a 3D human corneal model project in collaboration with Kyoto University, optimizing culture protocols to mimic all corneal layers and exploring its application in drug toxicity testing. This work sparked my interest in integrating immune cells into organoid systems. I joined Dr. Judith Ashouri-Sinha’s laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, studying the role of self-reactive CD4 T cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis using ZAP70 mutant mouse models. My work revealed impaired tolerance mechanisms and enhanced IL-17 differentiation in superantigen-reactive T cells, with results now in press at The Journal of Clinical Investigation. Seeking to broaden my expertise, I then moved to the McManus Lab to explore synthetic biology approaches and their applications in cancer immunology and functional genomics. My broad expertise spans immunology, molecular biology, and translational model development, with experience in both academic and pharmaceutical research. Outside the lab, I enjoy cross-cultural exchange, traveling across Asia, Europe, and North America, and seeking out the best local food scenes wherever I go. I like to explore new places, practice yoga, and catch up with my family and friends.