Research at Fox Chase »Research Areas »Research Programs

The Immune Cell Development and Host Defense program focuses on the biology of immune cells - from how they develop to how they function, principally in the context of viral infections. Members of this program seek to identify molecules required for the development of normal immune cells and determine how their misregulation leads to transformation of blood cells. Moreover, the investigators employ models of viral infection to gain insights into how immune cells function in fighting infection in order to better understand how immune effectors can be exploited to combat cancers.

The goals of the Immune Cell Development and Host Defense program are to:

Gain insight into the molecular control of immune cell development.

Dissect mechanisms of immune system function in the context of viral infections, with an emphasis on chronic infections that contribute to human cancer.

Assess the relevance of these insights to cancer etiology, diagnosis, or treatment, by fostering collaborations with clinical colleagues with expertise in hematological malignancies.

Team
Co-leaders Dr. David Wiest and Dr. Glenn Rall	Through close connections with clinicians, the Inflammation Working Group, and the Keystone Program in Blood Cell Development and Cancer, members of the Immune Cell Development and Host Defense program actively seek opportunities to apply their findings in the improvement of cancer medicine. Read More.