In this patient sample of lung cancer, different types of immune cells (magenta, yellow, blue, and green) surround a heart-shaped slice of blood vessel tissue (red). Analyzing the relative abundance of these cell populations in patient tumors may help clinicians better predict which patients will respond to immunotherapy. Credit: Megan Burger, Cecily C. Ritch, Giorgio Gaglia. (2022 Image Award Winner)
Scientific Program 2: Cancer Immunology & Immune Engineering
Program 2 seeks to understand and leverage the tumor-immune interface for rewiring the immune system to treat cancer, applying innovative science, engineering, and computational approaches to address key challenges associated with expanding immunotherapy efficacy in patients. Drawing on our traditional strengths in studying tumor microenvironment with immunocompetent systems, Program 2 employs an interdisciplinary toolkit to uncover principles in cancer immunology and immunotherapy design in the areas of spatiotemporal immunobiology, and leukocyte reprogramming.
NCI support enables Program 2 faculty members to mobilize resources (such as the SBC Core Facilities), organize collaborative projects, attract talented engineers and scientists to bring new perspectives and approaches to program goals, and support endeavors that accelerate discovery-to-translation pipelines. The long-term goal of Program 2 is to devise immune-based solutions that overcome tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance.
Program Co-Leaders
Associate Program Leader
Faculty | |
| Michael Birnbaum | J. Christopher Love |
| Y. Erin Cheng | Alison Ringel |
| Jianzhu Chen | Stefani Spranger |
| Brandon DeKosky | Jessica Stark |
| Roger Kamm | Ron Weiss |
| Laura Kiessling | Forest White |
| Douglas Lauffenburger | |