Ongoing Research Projects: 

1. Genetic manipulation of NK cells. We are designing novel CAR and non-CAR gene constructs aimed at enhancing NK and other innate immune cell targeting of cancer cells and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Major ongoing gene editing projects in our lab include:
 a) TCR-like (TCR-mimetic) CAR NK cells for NPM1c mutated AML 
 b) Mesothelin CARs with secondary arming for ovarian, pancreatic and lung cancer
 c) STING modulation in the TME to enhance NK cell CAR function  
 d) NK cell CAR against a novel target in myeloproliferative neoplasms
 e) CRISPR based gene editing for enhanced NK cell function
 f) Checkpoint targeted CARs to overcome tumor tolerance in advanced malignancies
 g) Novel peptide delivery system to the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment 
 h) Tumor associated metabolic pathway modulation 
 i) Novel synthetic protein delivery for enhanced tumor killing

​2. Development of novel synthetic cytokines for immune modulation  

3. Genetic manipulation of non pathogenic bacteria as a form of immunotherapy

4. Translation of memory-like NK cells in cancer:
      - AML, MDS and MPN relapsed after allogeneic transplantation (collaboration with Dr. Roman Shapiro).
        This clinical trial is currently enrolling patients (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT04024761). 
         
      -  Preemptive donor CIML NK cell infusion after RIC HCT (collaboration with Dr. Roman Shapiro).
        This clinical trial is currently enrolling patients (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06138587). 

       - CIML NK cells with venetoclax in MRD+ AML (collaboration with Dr. Max Stahl).
        This clinical trial is currently enrolling patients (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06152809). 

      - MRD positive myeloma patients undergoing transplantation (collaboration with Dr. Giada Bianchi).
        This clinical trial is currently enrolling patients (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT04634435). 

      - Platinum refractory head and neck cancer (collaboration with Drs. Glenn Hanna and Ravi Uppaluri).
        This clinical trial is currently enrolling patients (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT04290546).

      - Advanced kidney and bladder cancer (collaboration with Drs Toni Choueiri and Wenxin Xu). 
        This clinical trial is currently enrolling patients (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06318871).

      - Advanced ovarian cancer (collaboration with Drs. Ursula Matulonis and Rebecca Porter). 
        This clinical trial is currently enrolling patients (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06321484).

​