The goal of my laboratory is to apply cutting-edge experimental systems and methods to develop new immunotherapies for patients with solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma. I am committed to creating an environment in my laboratory where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. I believe that diversity is integral to fostering a productive work environment for scientific discovery and collaboration, and I look forward to serving as a mentor to students and post-doctoral fellows. My laboratory focuses on two main areas:

1. Harnessing tumor-targeting antibodies and NK cell activity in neuroblastoma

We design next-generation antibodies, such as immunocytokines, bispecific T-cell engagers, and antibody-drug conjugates, and assess their therapeutic activity and immunologic effect in preclinical models of neuroblastoma. The aim of our studies is to translate these new antibody formats into investigator-initiated clinical trials for children with neuroblastoma.

2. Optimizing cell-based immunotherapy for pediatric solid tumors

We performed preclinical optimization of a GPC2-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to treat neuroblastoma and brain tumors. This work will be translated into an investigator-initiated first-in-human clinical trial for patients with neuroblastoma in the Pediatric Oncology Branch. To further optimize CAR T-cell therapy, our laboratory leverages CAR engineering approaches and transgenic cytokines to augment CAR function in the tumor microenvironment. We use genome-wide CRISPR screens and next-generation sequencing to understand the mechanisms of tumor response to and evasion from adoptive T-cell therapy. Altogether, these efforts are geared toward finding new cellular therapies to treat children with solid tumors.