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Tao Dong

FMedSci DPhil

Ita Askonas Professor of Translational Immunology

  • Founding Director (Oxford), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute (COI)
  • Founding Director (Oxford), CAMS-Oxford joint International Centre for Translational Immunology

Research Interests

The aim of Tao Dong’s research group is to investigate the functional aspects of antigen specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) with a focus on the factors affecting CTL in controlling virus infection and cancer progression. While a robust and appropriate T cell response is typically beneficial to the host during human infections, a weak or inappropriate response can be ineffective or even have a detrimental effect. Over the past two decades, they have been working to understand the key factors required for efficient viral control by T cells in a number of different viral infections and cancer. Establishing both ex-vivo and in-vitro T cell functional evaluation platforms for antigen-specific T cells isolated from tissue and blood. By linking functional data with multi-omic single cell and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysis, they continue to identify potential targets and pathways to augment and control the immune response as a way of improving the outcome of several important human diseases including SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and cancer.

Key Publications

Unconventional human CD61 pairing with CD103 promotes TCR signaling and antigen-specific T cell cytotoxicity
Abd Hamid M. et al. (2024) Nature Immunology

Broad and strong memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells induced by SARS-CoV-2 in UK convalescent individuals following COVID-19
Peng Y. et al. (2020), Nature Immunology


An immunodominant NP105–113-B*07:02 cytotoxic T cell response controls viral replication and is associated with less severe COVID-19 disease
Peng Y. et al. (2022), Nature Immunology

Long-persisting SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific CD4+ T cells associated with mild disease and increased cytotoxicity post COVID-19
Liu G. et al. (2025), Nature Communications, 16


T cell memory response to MPXV infection exhibits greater effector function and migratory potential compared to MVA-BN vaccination
Chen J-L. et al, (2025), Nature Communications, 16


Tumor-specific CD8 T cell characterization in HR+ breast cancer reveals an impaired antitumoral response in patients with lymph node metastasis
Pinho MP. et al, (2025), Cell Reports Medicine, 102252 - 102252


Vaccine-induced CD8+ T cells are key to protection from SARS-CoV-2

Antoun E. et al. (2023), Nature Immunology

Enriched HLA-E and CD94/NKG2A Interaction Limits Antitumor CD8+ Tumor-Infiltrating T Lymphocyte Responses
Abd Hamid M. et al. (2019), Cancer Immunology Research

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein-3 genetic variant rs12252-C is associated with severe influenza in Chinese individuals
Zhang YH. et al. (2013), Nature Communications, 4

Memory T cells established by seasonal human influenza A infection cross-react with avian influenza A (H5N1) in healthy individuals
Lee LY-H. et al. (2008). Journal of Clinical Investigation.


Understanding the role of T cells in cancer

Our group are working to characterise and understand the T cell repertoire present in multiple sites that are influenced by cancer. By comparing T cells from different locations we can identify location-specific differences and potentially identify novel populations of T cells that are specific to a particular cancer. Once these T cells have been identified, we can assess their specificity by looking at their T cell receptor (TCR) sequences. Finally, we can investigate mechanisms of action and link phenotypic data to function, potentially opening avenues for therapeutic intervention in the future.  

Understanding the role of T cells in emerging viral infections

For many years, our lab has been able to identify and characterise virus-specific T cells. During the pandemic we were able to streamline this process and create a pipeline for analysis of virus-specific T cells throughout the course of infection. Starting with identification of viral antigens through peptide screens, we can then identify key responses or factors that are associated with disease; establishing those that are protective from those that are pathogenic. With our platform we are able to evaluate how the long-term memory response is altered over time, as well as following re-infection or exposure to vaccines. Finally, we can rapidly assess how viral variants affect T cell responses. Altogether this allows us to get a good understanding of T cell responses in emerging viral infections and provides key research for future vaccines.