Supervisor:
Program of Study:
MSc, Microbiology & Immunology
Project Title:
Prescriptive Natural Killer Cell Based Immunotherapy for Leukemia
Research Summary:
Natural killer cells are immune cells that kill cancer cells. This killing is seen strongly
against leukemia, a blood cancer. Despite early remissions, current treatments cannot always
prevent relapse, so more effective treatments are needed. Cancer immunotherapy
directs the patient’s immune system to kill the cancer. Natural killer cells can safely be transferred from healthy donors to patients, making them strong candidates in cancer immunotherapy. The degree to which natural killer cells are able to recognize and kill cancer cells differs within and among people due to differences in genetics, which renders different natural killer cells better or worse at killing tumours or virally infected cells. We are trying to understand the features of natural killer cells that make them potent killers of leukemia, so that we can develop precise immunotherapies for leukemia and other cancers.
Our lab is measuring the impact of the diverse signals that natural killer cells integrate, hoping
to understand which features are most predictive of anti-leukemia function. With this knowledge,
we will be able to better predict and enhance the strength of natural killer cell killing of leukemia.
Scholarships and/or Awards:
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- Cancer Research Training Program (CRTP) Traineeship Award 2021
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- Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship, 2021
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- BioCanRx Summer Studentship Award, 2020
Career Aspirations:
I have always been interested in human health and disease, and I am particularly interested in immunology and cancer. I am currently investigating natural killer (NK) cell interactions with leukemia. Understanding and controlling these interactions will allow us to develop and precisely deliver NK cells as immunotherapy for leukemia and other cancers. Following my MSc, I plan to pursue a PhD followed by a career in cancer research.
Location:
Dalhousie University