Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
My research seeks to understand how host immune systems respond to cancer cells and to develop effective vaccines against human cancers. A major research interest in my lab is focused on identifying the roles of different types of tumor-associated regulatory T cells (Tregs) in suppression of anti-tumor immunity. A second major area of interest in his lab involves the development of strategies to overcome tumor suppressive microenvironments induced by Tregs and tumor cells using Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and other immunomodulators. The combined knowledge resulting from these novel studies will potentially lead to the development of more effective vaccines and/or immunotherapies active against human cancers. In addition to his work towards development of cancer vaccines/immunotherapies, he also has begun to investigate the importance of Tregs during infections with chronic intracellular pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and virus.