The research group is developing genetically engineered viruses and T cells for cancer therapy.
Viruses are modified so that they selectively kill tumor cells. Virus infectivity is altered through modification of the virus capsid so that the virus will target molecules that are over-expressed on tumor cells. Virus replication is altered by introduction of regulatory elements into the virus genome to specifically control viral gene expression. We are primarily working with oncolytic adenovirus but we also have research on reovirus and vaccinia virus.
T cells are modified to express T cell receptors or chimeric antigen receptors that recognize antigens that are over-expressed by tumor cells. This way the tumor antigen-directed T cells specifically kill tumor cells. We also introduce microRNAs and other molecules into the T cells to make them resistant to suppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment. We use lentiviral vectors to genetically modify T cells.
