Q&A with Xinyi Tu: Developing a Platform for Personalized Cancer Vaccines
March 2, 2026Xinyi Tu, a PhD student at Arizona State University, is developing a cancer vaccine platform that uses nanoparticles to deliver vaccine ingredients to the immune system.
It’s important to celebrate small wins when you’re a scientific researcher. Xinyi Tu, a PhD student at Arizona State University, does this by dividing her research projects into smaller goals and rewarding herself when she achieves each one. “Usually, I like going out for good dining,” she said.
Tu experienced a much bigger win last year though when she received the 2025 PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship in Drug Delivery for her research developing a cancer vaccine platform that uses nanoparticles to deliver vaccine ingredients to the immune system.
The vaccine platform uses RNA molecules specially designed to grab the attention of the immune system and trigger a response against cancer cells. This approach does not use materials that cause harmful side effects like fever and allows for customization for different cancer types.
Watch the video to learn more about Tu’s career journey and her research.
Learn more about the PhRMA Foundation’s fellowship and grant opportunities. Check out more researcher stories on our blog.
