Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative
The Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative aims to understand the mechanisms that are critical to cancer immunology and to immunotherapy response, resistance, and toxicity.
Led by Bin Zhang, MD, PhD, and Jeffrey Sosman, MD, the initiative seeks to facilitate effective collaboration among basic scientists and clinical investigators from different disciplines across Lurie Cancer Center focused on understanding the immune regulation of cancer. The combined efforts of participants will result in the publication of high-impact research and increased peer-reviewed multidisciplinary grants.
Leadership
Bin Zhang, MD, PhD
Jeffrey Sosman, MD
Resources
The Immunotherapy Assessment Core helps researchers dissect mechanisms of immunopathogenesis at the single cell level and explore novel disease-specific biomarkers with diagnostic and therapeutic applications using state of the art technology.
Initiative Activities
- Monthly faculty presentations from Northwestern-based immunology researchers and researchers from fields relevant to cancer immunology. Currently meet the third Wednesday of every month. Contact JoAnne Kus (j-kus@northwestern.edu) for more information.
- Monthly Investigator meeting (including research and clinical faculty)- Discuss research interests and seek collaborative opportunities
- Monthly Cancer immunology Journal Club-Review of current high-impact research on cancer immunology and immunotherapy
- Monthly research progress meeting- For doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows to present the results of their laboratory work in progress, practice their presentation skills, and network with other trainees.
- Annual Symposium- Bring NU and external prominent investigators across the cancer immunotherapy field together to advance the science, discuss breakthroughs, and educate attendees on cancer immunotherapy.
- Workshops/round tables for planning responses to funding opportunities including Program Project Grants and Multi-PI Grants.
Highlighted Projects
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Targeting Immune Suppression in the tumor microenvironment
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Brain tumor immunotherapy |
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Prostate tumor immunotherapy |
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Nanotechnology and biomolecular engineering immunotherapy for cancer treatment |
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Immune-Related Adverse Events in Cancer Immunotherapy |
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Immune profiling in skin cancer and renal carcinoma utilizing cutting-edge techniques |
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Bladder cancer immunotherapy |
| New strategies to combine epigenetic modulation and immune checkpoint blockade in ovarian cancer |
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Enhancing efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in pancreatic cancer |