Research

Immune cell dysfunction is a hallmark of both chronic viral infections and the tumor microenvironment. Persistent antigenic stimulation and the accumulation of immunosuppressive metabolites drive immune cell exhaustion, impairing the cytotoxic function of T cells, NK cells, and macrophages. This metabolic immunosuppression is thought to be a major barrier to the success of anti-tumor immunotherapies and the clearance of chronic viral infections.

To address this challenge, we are developing chemical, enzymatic, and engineered cell-based strategies to modulate immunosuppressive metabolites, with the goal of restoring and enhancing immune cell function. In our current projects, we are developing approaches to reprogram metabolism within disease microenvironments and engineering novel cell therapies designed to sustain immune function under metabolically hostile conditions.