Department of Immunology

What we do

As we understand the molecules and pathways that comprise the immune system, we work toward identifying novel targets for therapeutic intervention and provide patients with a stronger immune system that can prevent and eliminate cancers. 

• Identify and characterize molecular components determinants of immunoregulation and development of the immune system and hematopoiesis.
• Study of the biology of intratumoral T-cells and adoptive T-cell therapies involving expanded TILs and in-vitro-sensitized T-cells.
• Identify interactions between innate and adaptive immunity and their distribution that contributes to anti-tumor responses. This includes emphasis on a variety of immune effector cells and trafficking patterns that can enhance TILS and adoptive T-cell therapies.
• Emphasis on intratumoral dendritic cells, macrophages and fibroblasts and their role in tumor progression and a focus on IFN signaling in the TME.
• Understanding the mechanisms which underlie immunosuppression and the role of cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells and macrophages, regulatory T-cells and other immune components in the tumor microenvironment, immune organs and blood.
• Explore the role of environmental and physiological stressors on the effectiveness of the immune system and on the efficacy of immunotherapy.
• Apply our knowledge of anti-tumor immunity to aid in the clinical management of cancer patients, and the development of clinical trials testing novel immune therapies, including vaccines and onco-viral therapies.
• Study the role of inflammation in metastasis and effectiveness of cancer therapies.

A better understanding of mechanisms involved in effective anti-tumor control provides the opportunity for trainees to manipulate these pathways in animal models and potentially generate the opportunity to test new treatment regimens in vivo and in novel patient trials.