Description of Research Expertise

The Powell Lab is actively investigating the application of immune-based therapy for cancer. Building on interrogations in basic T cell biology in the lab, true bench-to-bedside translational immunology is being developed, with a strong focus on T cell-based therapy for cancer.

Adoptive immunotherapy using natural tumor-reactive T cells has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of advanced, refractory solid cancer. One obstacle to successful immunotherapy is the lack of highly avid, tumor-reactive T cells in multiple cancers. One current focus of the Powell lab is to generate/isolate high avidity, tumor-reactive T cells from heterogenous tumor infiltrating lymphocyte populations in traditionally "non-immunogenic" cancers utilizing novel culture conditions and T cell capture techniques.

A secondary field of study is the de novo generation of tumor reactive T cells through novel, sophisticated genetic engineering methods. One approach relies on the isolation and cloning of T cell receptors (TCRs) that confer non-reactive T cells with specific and potent immune function following gene transfer via recombinant lentivirus or retrovirus. Another approach relies upon the use of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that confer T cells with the MHC-independent specificity of a tumor antigen-specific antibody and potent T cell activity delivered by TCR and costimulatory domains. The Powell Lab employs the CAR approach to test the function of novel costimulatory signals in anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, we pioneered the use of universal immune receptors as a novel platform for CAR screening and for the tailoring of antigen specificity for simultaneous or sequential targeting of target antigens.

Current efforts include the following:

* Development of universal immune receptors.
* Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) therapy.
* Lenti- and retroviral vector based transfer of genes encoding tumor-reactive T cell receptors, antibody-based chimeric immune receptors and costimulatory receptors.
* Novel tumor focusing approaches that spare normal tissues.
* Interogation of novel costimulatory domains on T cell phenotype and function.
* Development of novel cellular cancer vaccine approaches including dendritic cells.
* Host immunomodulation to potentiate antitumor T cell responses.
* Preclinical validations; clinical translation and trial support.
* Biospecimen Processing and Procurement; viable tumor banking.

Lab Personnel and Associates:
- Evripidis Lanitis, Visiting Ph.D. Candidate
- Rachel Lynn, Ph.D. candidate (CB)
- Jenessa Smith, Ph.D. candidate (GTV)
- Dr. Degang Song, Post-doctoral Investigator
- Dr. Kasia Urbanska, Post-doctoral Investigator
- Dr. Xiaojun Xu, visiting Post-doctoral Investigator
- Dr. Caitlin Stashwick, Medical Fellow
- Dr. Qunrui Ye, Senior Research Investigator
- Dr. Mathilde Poussin, Ph.D., Lab Manager
- Andrew Best, Cell Processing Technician
- Tom Garrabrant, Flow Cytometry Technician