AICF's 2018-19 Fellows:
Project Abstracts
Andrea Conte, PhD
Generation of a freely available humanized mouse model to produce antibodies for cancer therapy
"Antibodies (Abs)-based cancer therapy is an emerging strategy for treating hematological and solid tumors using “anti-tumor” Abs to activate T-cells or complement and lead to tumor cells destruction or phagocytosis. However, Abs usage is limited by immunogenicity when they are derived in non-human species. Working in Dr. Casellas’ lab at NIH, and supported by AICF, I’m contributing to the generation of “humanized mice” carrying human immunoglobulin genes, and other components of the human immune system, by using several genetic engineering methodologies. These mice would represent an excellent platform freely available to academic labs to produce human Abs for cancer therapy."
Generation of a freely available humanized mouse model to produce antibodies for cancer therapy
"Antibodies (Abs)-based cancer therapy is an emerging strategy for treating hematological and solid tumors using “anti-tumor” Abs to activate T-cells or complement and lead to tumor cells destruction or phagocytosis. However, Abs usage is limited by immunogenicity when they are derived in non-human species. Working in Dr. Casellas’ lab at NIH, and supported by AICF, I’m contributing to the generation of “humanized mice” carrying human immunoglobulin genes, and other components of the human immune system, by using several genetic engineering methodologies. These mice would represent an excellent platform freely available to academic labs to produce human Abs for cancer therapy."
Margherita Boieri, PhD
Mechanism of CD4+ T cell Mediated Antitumor Immunity
"I joined the laboratory of Dr. Demehri at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School in September 2017. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial derived factor with the ability to induce the activation of inflammatory CD4+ T helper 2 (Th2) cells and block the early stages of breast cancer development. Understanding the mechanisms involved in Th2 cell-induced tumor immunity, and investigating the changes induced by TSLP-activated Th2 cells within the tumor cells, will give new insights in the previously unrecognized anti-tumor effect of CD4+ Th2 cells. The goal of this project is to elucidate the mechanism of CD4+ T cell-mediated cancer suppression against early stages of breast carcinogenesis and explore the use of TSLP-activated CD4+ Th2 cells in cancer treatment and prevention."
Mechanism of CD4+ T cell Mediated Antitumor Immunity
"I joined the laboratory of Dr. Demehri at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School in September 2017. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial derived factor with the ability to induce the activation of inflammatory CD4+ T helper 2 (Th2) cells and block the early stages of breast cancer development. Understanding the mechanisms involved in Th2 cell-induced tumor immunity, and investigating the changes induced by TSLP-activated Th2 cells within the tumor cells, will give new insights in the previously unrecognized anti-tumor effect of CD4+ Th2 cells. The goal of this project is to elucidate the mechanism of CD4+ T cell-mediated cancer suppression against early stages of breast carcinogenesis and explore the use of TSLP-activated CD4+ Th2 cells in cancer treatment and prevention."
Giorgia Foggetti, PhD
Drug Resistance and Metastasis in Lung Adenocarcinoma
"I joined the laboratory of Dr. Katerina Politi at the Yale Cancer Center in 2016 and focused my research on metastatic EGFR-driven lung adenocarcinoma. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the current standard for first line treatment but resistance inevitably emerges, frequently accompanied by further metastatic spread of the disease. I recently established models of metastatic mutant EGFR lung adenocarcinoma that allow me to investigate how sensitivity to TKIs is affected at different metastatic sites. During the second year of the AICF fellowship, my studies will be devoted to identifying mechanisms involved in metastatic progression and drug resistance in lung cancer."
Drug Resistance and Metastasis in Lung Adenocarcinoma
"I joined the laboratory of Dr. Katerina Politi at the Yale Cancer Center in 2016 and focused my research on metastatic EGFR-driven lung adenocarcinoma. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the current standard for first line treatment but resistance inevitably emerges, frequently accompanied by further metastatic spread of the disease. I recently established models of metastatic mutant EGFR lung adenocarcinoma that allow me to investigate how sensitivity to TKIs is affected at different metastatic sites. During the second year of the AICF fellowship, my studies will be devoted to identifying mechanisms involved in metastatic progression and drug resistance in lung cancer."
Francesca Daniela Gianni, MD
Mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
"Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma have been my main areas of interest and clinical expertise. These diseases represent the most frequent types of cancer in children and young adults. Notably, and despite much recent effort, cure rates remain suboptimal. The project which I will work on in Dr. Adolfo Ferrando's Lab aims to characterize the genetic and metabolic mechanisms driving chemotherapy resistance and relapse in lymphoblastic leukemia. I will investigate the role of recurrent relapse-associated mutations as drivers of chemotherapy resistance using forward genetic screens."
Mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
"Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma have been my main areas of interest and clinical expertise. These diseases represent the most frequent types of cancer in children and young adults. Notably, and despite much recent effort, cure rates remain suboptimal. The project which I will work on in Dr. Adolfo Ferrando's Lab aims to characterize the genetic and metabolic mechanisms driving chemotherapy resistance and relapse in lymphoblastic leukemia. I will investigate the role of recurrent relapse-associated mutations as drivers of chemotherapy resistance using forward genetic screens."
Cristina Guarducci, PhD
Elucidating the mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in hormone receptor positive breast cancers
"In 2017 I started at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, investigating the mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors under the mentorship of Dr. Myles Brown and Dr. Rinath Jeselsohn. My research project focuses on estrogen receptor positive breast cancer and aims at discerning the molecular consequences of Rb loss in cells resistant to CDK4/6 inhibitors. I am studying if the mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors are a result of pre-existing resistant cellular clones or de novo mechanisms of resistance. Finally, I am identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities to treat the resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in wild type and mutant-estrogen receptor breast cancer cells."
Elucidating the mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in hormone receptor positive breast cancers
"In 2017 I started at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, investigating the mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors under the mentorship of Dr. Myles Brown and Dr. Rinath Jeselsohn. My research project focuses on estrogen receptor positive breast cancer and aims at discerning the molecular consequences of Rb loss in cells resistant to CDK4/6 inhibitors. I am studying if the mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors are a result of pre-existing resistant cellular clones or de novo mechanisms of resistance. Finally, I am identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities to treat the resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in wild type and mutant-estrogen receptor breast cancer cells."
Carla Guarino, PhD
Exploring the role of posttranslational protein palmitoylation in cancer progression
"I am currently doing my post-doc work in Dr. Wu’s lab at the Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC), MGH/Harvard Medical School, located in Boston. Here, my main research interests lie primarily in the field of chemical biology and I’m investigating protein fatty acylation in tumor progression. The AICF fellowship allows me to elucidate the mechanisms by which deregulation of protein lipidation markedly increases cancer development with the aim to discover new targets and strategies aimed at blocking this post-translational modification in therapeutic applications."
Exploring the role of posttranslational protein palmitoylation in cancer progression
"I am currently doing my post-doc work in Dr. Wu’s lab at the Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC), MGH/Harvard Medical School, located in Boston. Here, my main research interests lie primarily in the field of chemical biology and I’m investigating protein fatty acylation in tumor progression. The AICF fellowship allows me to elucidate the mechanisms by which deregulation of protein lipidation markedly increases cancer development with the aim to discover new targets and strategies aimed at blocking this post-translational modification in therapeutic applications."
Giovanni Offeddu, PhD
Tumor glycocalyx targeting and its effect on the metastatic cascade
"I am conducting my post-doctoral studies in the research group of Prof. Roger Kamm at MIT, which I joined in April 2017, applying microfluidics techniques to the investigation of cancer and vascular mechanobiology. With the support of the AICF Fellowship, I will study the unique glycocalyx expressed on tumor cells and its interaction with the endothelial glycocalyx across critical stages of the metastatic cascade. The glycocalyx covering tumor cells regulates their interaction with the external environment, and so represents a promising target for cancer therapy."
Tumor glycocalyx targeting and its effect on the metastatic cascade
"I am conducting my post-doctoral studies in the research group of Prof. Roger Kamm at MIT, which I joined in April 2017, applying microfluidics techniques to the investigation of cancer and vascular mechanobiology. With the support of the AICF Fellowship, I will study the unique glycocalyx expressed on tumor cells and its interaction with the endothelial glycocalyx across critical stages of the metastatic cascade. The glycocalyx covering tumor cells regulates their interaction with the external environment, and so represents a promising target for cancer therapy."
Giacomo Oliveira, PhD
Discovering the breadth of antigen-specific T-cell immunity following effective cancer immunotherapy: a focus on checkpoint blockade therapy and cancer vaccines
"My everlasting interest is in the field of cancer adoptive immunotherapy, especially in the context of T-cell dynamics, with a special focus on translational projects. My research has been focused on understanding how a protective and long-lasting T-cell immunity is shaped and maintained after immunotherapies for hematology. Under the supervision of Dr. Bonini and Vago, I studied the requirements for long-term persistence of gene-modified lymphocytes infused into patients and I modeled mechanisms of evasion exploited by tumor cells to circumvent immune control. In the lab of Dr. Wu I will investigate how the T-cell immunity is shaped after cancer vaccines and/or check-point blocker therapy. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how tumor cells are able to elicit and/or suppress anti tumor T-cell responses, and how such responses can be manipulated in order to establish a protective immunity in patients."
Discovering the breadth of antigen-specific T-cell immunity following effective cancer immunotherapy: a focus on checkpoint blockade therapy and cancer vaccines
"My everlasting interest is in the field of cancer adoptive immunotherapy, especially in the context of T-cell dynamics, with a special focus on translational projects. My research has been focused on understanding how a protective and long-lasting T-cell immunity is shaped and maintained after immunotherapies for hematology. Under the supervision of Dr. Bonini and Vago, I studied the requirements for long-term persistence of gene-modified lymphocytes infused into patients and I modeled mechanisms of evasion exploited by tumor cells to circumvent immune control. In the lab of Dr. Wu I will investigate how the T-cell immunity is shaped after cancer vaccines and/or check-point blocker therapy. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how tumor cells are able to elicit and/or suppress anti tumor T-cell responses, and how such responses can be manipulated in order to establish a protective immunity in patients."
Giacomo Parisi, PhD
Structure and function of the SRD5A family of enzymes that mediate testosterone action.
"I was awarded an AICF Post-Doctoral Fellowship to work in Dr. Mancia’s Laboratory at Columbia University. My research project focuses on studying the structure-function relationship of steroid 5a dehydrogenase (SRD5a) enzymes via a combination of structural (X-ray crystallography and single-particle cryoelectron microscopy), biochemical and biophysical techniques. SRD5as converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, and as such represents potential major drug targets in the therapy of prostate cancer, and in prevention of benign prostatic hypertrophy."
Structure and function of the SRD5A family of enzymes that mediate testosterone action.
"I was awarded an AICF Post-Doctoral Fellowship to work in Dr. Mancia’s Laboratory at Columbia University. My research project focuses on studying the structure-function relationship of steroid 5a dehydrogenase (SRD5a) enzymes via a combination of structural (X-ray crystallography and single-particle cryoelectron microscopy), biochemical and biophysical techniques. SRD5as converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, and as such represents potential major drug targets in the therapy of prostate cancer, and in prevention of benign prostatic hypertrophy."
Marco Roncador, MD
Study of clonal evolution in multiple myeloma with whole genome sequencing: from asymptomatic stages to disease relapse
"As an AICF Fellow, I will join the lab of Dr. Parmigiani and Dr. Munshi at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. My project will comprehensively characterize the clonal evolution in multiple myeloma using whole genome sequencing data. The reconstruction of clonal dynamics from early asymptomatic stages to late relapsed disease and the study of clonal response to treatment are expected to provide robust bases for improving screening, prognostic assessment and therapeutic strategies in this type of cancer."
Study of clonal evolution in multiple myeloma with whole genome sequencing: from asymptomatic stages to disease relapse
"As an AICF Fellow, I will join the lab of Dr. Parmigiani and Dr. Munshi at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. My project will comprehensively characterize the clonal evolution in multiple myeloma using whole genome sequencing data. The reconstruction of clonal dynamics from early asymptomatic stages to late relapsed disease and the study of clonal response to treatment are expected to provide robust bases for improving screening, prognostic assessment and therapeutic strategies in this type of cancer."
Leonardo Scarabelli, PhD
Complex Nanosystems for Intracellular Delivery and Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells
"I obtained my PhD in Chemistry in 2016 at the University of Vigo (Spain), with a thesis focused on the synthesis of anisotropic noble metal nanoparticles and their interaction with biological systems. At UCLA, I am working with Dr. Steven Jonas on different projects related to pediatric cancer. With the support of the AICF Fellowship, I am integrating my expertise in plasmonics and nanotechnology within a highly diverse team of oncologists, physicists, biologists and engineers for the development of high throughput devices for intracellular delivery of gene-editing material, and for the detection and analysis of circulating tumor cells.”
Complex Nanosystems for Intracellular Delivery and Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells
"I obtained my PhD in Chemistry in 2016 at the University of Vigo (Spain), with a thesis focused on the synthesis of anisotropic noble metal nanoparticles and their interaction with biological systems. At UCLA, I am working with Dr. Steven Jonas on different projects related to pediatric cancer. With the support of the AICF Fellowship, I am integrating my expertise in plasmonics and nanotechnology within a highly diverse team of oncologists, physicists, biologists and engineers for the development of high throughput devices for intracellular delivery of gene-editing material, and for the detection and analysis of circulating tumor cells.”
Giulia Schiroli, PhD
Dissecting the cell-specific determinants of pre-leukemic clonal hematopoiesis
"I am fascinated by the field of hematopoiesis and in particular by the complex regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in healthy and malignant conditions. After joining L. Naldini’s laboratory (SR-TIGET, Milan) for my PhD studies, which were focused on the development of novel targeted gene editing approaches to safely engineer HSC, I moved to Dr. Scadden's Laboratory in Massachusetts General Hospital as a Postdoctoral fellow. The project supported by AICF is aimed at investigating the cell-specific HSC determinants involved in cancer progression in individuals with clonal hematopoiesis, with the final goal of elucidating risk factors for malignant transformation."
Dissecting the cell-specific determinants of pre-leukemic clonal hematopoiesis
"I am fascinated by the field of hematopoiesis and in particular by the complex regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in healthy and malignant conditions. After joining L. Naldini’s laboratory (SR-TIGET, Milan) for my PhD studies, which were focused on the development of novel targeted gene editing approaches to safely engineer HSC, I moved to Dr. Scadden's Laboratory in Massachusetts General Hospital as a Postdoctoral fellow. The project supported by AICF is aimed at investigating the cell-specific HSC determinants involved in cancer progression in individuals with clonal hematopoiesis, with the final goal of elucidating risk factors for malignant transformation."
Sheila Spada, PhD
Role of exosomes derived from irradiated cancer cells in priming of anti-tumor T cells
"I joined the laboratory of Dr. Demaria at Weill Cornell Medical College in July 2017. My research focuses on studying the mechanisms whereby ionizing radiation modulates tumor immunogenicity, and exploiting this property of radiation to achieve a therapeutic synergy with immunotherapy. The AICF fellowship allows me to investigate the role of exosomes, extracellular vesicles produced by irradiated tumor cells in modulating the immunological microenvironment of breast cancer and their contribution to the priming of anti-tumor immune responses. Results will pave the way to novel vaccination strategies for cancer."
Role of exosomes derived from irradiated cancer cells in priming of anti-tumor T cells
"I joined the laboratory of Dr. Demaria at Weill Cornell Medical College in July 2017. My research focuses on studying the mechanisms whereby ionizing radiation modulates tumor immunogenicity, and exploiting this property of radiation to achieve a therapeutic synergy with immunotherapy. The AICF fellowship allows me to investigate the role of exosomes, extracellular vesicles produced by irradiated tumor cells in modulating the immunological microenvironment of breast cancer and their contribution to the priming of anti-tumor immune responses. Results will pave the way to novel vaccination strategies for cancer."
