Advances in Immunotherapy

MSI PIs Paolo Provenzano (associate professor, Biomedical Engineering; Masonic Cancer Center), Beau Webber (assistant professor, Pediatrics; Masonic Cancer Center), and Branden Moriarity (assistant professor, Pediatrics; Masonic Cancer Center) and their colleagues have published a new study showing that engineered immune cells can overcome physical barriers and allow a patient’s immune system to fight cancer. This could improve cancer therapies and possibly avoid procedures such as radiation and chemotherapy.

A story about this research appears on the University of Minnesota news site: New Research Optimizes Body’s Own Immune System to Fight Cancer. The paper can be found on the Nature Communications website: Engineering T Cells to Enhance 3D Migration Through Structurally and Mechanically Complex Tumor Microenvironments.

Professor Provenzano uses MSI resources for analyzing and processing large datasets and complex models relating to research into the mechanisms of cellular behavior in cancer microenvironments. Professor Webber uses MSI to support research into novel treatments for genetic diseases and cancer. Professor Moriarty uses MSI resources for genomics investigations as part of research into novel therapeutic strategies for pediatric cancers.