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Our lab has been engaged in the study of tumor and viral immunology to advance the use of adoptive cellular therapy over the last 20 years. We have focused our research towards an understanding of human T cell biology and anti-tumor immunity and the development of translational strategies which have led to several first-in-human studies of adoptive therapy using antigen-specific T cells. Three factors correlate with clinical efficacy:

• in vivo persistence of the transferred T cells
• acquisition of central memory properties
• induction of antigen-spreading.

By applying fundamental insights gained from mechanistic benchtop studies in immunobiology, epigenetics and metabolism, we can enhance intrinsic properties of T cell memory and function which, when combined with extrinsic immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment through the use checkpoint blockade and costimulatory agonists facilitate antigen-spreading and functional persistence. Combination strategies involving adoptive cellular therapy and immunomodulation will be used address the challenge of treating patients with solid, liquid and rare tumors.