Feb. 22, 2026
Small but Mighty
Targeting tumors through nanomedicine is leading to big results.
TOPICS: Cancer & Immunotherapy | School of Pharmacy
By Lindy Kravec
A new immunochemotherapy delivery system developed at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy is promising to transform cancer treatment and patient outcomes for the better. The key, according to researcher Song Li, lies in particles so small that they cannot be seen by the naked eye. Li, David and Betty Brenneman Professor and director of the Pharmacogenetics Center at Pitt Pharmacy, has spent more than 30 years researching and developing nanoparticles—extremely tiny specks of matter that are designed to carry medicines safely and precisely into the body in a way that traditional methods cannot.
Recently, he and his team have zeroed in on using nanoparticles to treat pancreatic cancer and other aggressive forms of the disease that are difficult to treat due to dense, shield-like tissue barriers around the tumors. According to Li’s research, nanoparticles are capable of penetrating these tumors and delivering targeted chemotherapy.
Nanoparticles are made combining materials like fats, polymers or metals at very small scales. When used for cancer treatment, nanoparticles are often loaded with chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy drugs inside or on their surface. These mini delivery vehicles are able to target specific tissues, like tumors, so that more of the medicine reaches the right place while reducing side effects.
In preclinical studies, Li’s approach to pancreatic tumors significantly improved drug delivery and tumor response compared to conventional treatments. It's a science that requires both a combination of different therapeutics as well as a unique delivery system.
“Combination therapy is widely used in disease treatment, particularly in cancer, as tumors are highly adaptive and can quickly develop resistance to single-agent therapies,” says Li. “In addition to designing nanoparticles for improved drug delivery, we are also focused on uncovering the mechanisms underlying therapy resistance.”
“Our goal is to develop new therapeutics that can be combined with current standard-of-care treatments to further enhance patient outcomes,” he continues.
Li has a career-long history of applying innovative solutions to pharmaceutical and scientific challenges. He has more than 220 peer-reviewed publications to his credit and continues to break new ground.
“I think of myself as the interface of biology, immunology and biotechnology,” says Li. “I am always trying to understand the underlying problem and then go to work to solve it.”
Educated as a medical doctor at the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China, Li practiced as a gastroenterologist prior to earning a PhD in cancer immunotherapy. His keen interest in patient outcomes fueled his interest in drug-delivery research.
Early in his career, he focused on developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for treating gastric cancer. “Today, several ADCs have been approved for clinical use,” says Li. “This underscores the translational potential of this research.”
His interest shifted to nanoparticles in 1994, when, as a postdoctoral fellow, he joined the laboratory of Leaf Huang, the former director of the Center for Pharmacogenetics at Pitt.
“I was particularly drawn to nanoparticles because of their markedly higher drug-loading capacity and versatility in therapeutic delivery,” Li recalls. He has since spent years exploring the possibilities.
“The work we’re doing now to develop the technology to make particles really small is very exciting,” says Li. “When we actively target tumors, we’re able to bring the needed chemotherapy cargo directly to the inside of a cell—right where we need it.”
In addition to their use in cancer therapy, nanoparticles can be used in vaccines such as the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and in medical imaging. Li is also exploring their use in gene therapy, with potential applications in both cancer and other diseases.
In 2020 Li’s scientific endeavors led him to cofound Duo Oncology, an oncologist funded start-up company that grew out of University of Pittsburgh research and is dedicated to bringing innovative cancer treatments to market.
“I think of myself as the interface of biology, immunology and biotechnology. I am always trying to understand the underlying problem and then go to work to solve it.”
Song Li, David and Betty Brenneman Professor
To date, the company has completed efficacy and toxicity studies of nanomedicine used to treat pancreatic cancer in mice and dogs, but Li is hopeful to move into human clinical trials soon. It is also targeting other hard-to-treat cancers, such as bile duct, lung and breast cancer.
DuoOncology strives to develop a pipeline that addresses the greatest unmet needs in cancer treatment. Li’s work is part of that effort.
“The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy is at the forefront of transforming health through research in drug discovery, development, translation, implementation and outcomes research,” says Amy L. Seybert, dean of the School of Pharmacy. “A perfect example of our impact is Dr. Li's groundbreaking research discoveries."
Li has set the stage for young researchers like Chien-Yu Chen, a Pitt doctoral student in Pharmaceutics. He provides mentorship and a collaborative environment in which they are encouraged and supported to make new discoveries on their own.
“Being a researcher is fascinating,” says Chen. “It starts with a passion for a field and grows into truly understanding it. It is satisfying to see results reveal something new, whether they confirm our hypothesis or take an unexpected turn. Each finding brings a sense of uncovering the unknown.”
She continues, “Seeing how research benefits people is truly inspiring.”