Grant: Foundation Grant

<html> <body> <p>Many new therapies for immune disorders, such as autoimmune diseases, graft rejection and hematological malignancies,&nbsp;target receptor-initiated signaling pathways. Designing these therapies was based on mechanistic knowledge of such pathways. It is likely that further understanding of signaling pathways&nbsp;in immune cells will identify additional targets to improve outcomes and reduce drug-associated side effects&nbsp;in patients with immunological diseases. Likewise, it is well established that the immune response can suppress growth of cancer cells. Hence, understanding immune cell signaling pathways can also identify new targets to improve treatment of&nbsp;cancer.<br> <br> My <strong>expertise</strong> is in the field of immune cell activation. Trained as a medical oncologist, I have focused my research career on understanding pathways controlling immune cell function. Using human cells and genetically engineered mice as experimental models, I have deciphered elementary immune cell pathways at the functional and molecular levels, provided key evidence that&nbsp;these pathways control disease, and generated a knowledge base on which I am designing and testing new therapeutic interventions. My work has garnered international recognition in immunology, and has led to my nomination to leading clinical and scientific societies, and obtention of several awards.<br> <br> To accelerate translation of my work into clinical application, I have developed key <strong>collaborations</strong> with scientists and clinician-scientists studying patients with primary immunodeficiencies, such as Drs. Sylvain Latour and Alain Fischer (Paris, France), and Dr. Donald Vinh (Montreal). I have&nbsp;<strong>partnered</strong> with Bristol-Myers Squibb (Princeton, NJ), with whom I have conducted research studies on SLAMF7, an immune cell receptor, and on a therapeutic anti-SLAMF7 antibody, elotuzumab, for use in multiple myeloma.<br> <br>The fulcrum of my Foundation&nbsp;<strong>research program</strong> is to investigate <u>SLAM family receptors (SFRs) and their pathways</u> in immune regulation, immune pathologies and hematological malignancies. My program also analyzes other receptor-triggered pathways in immune cells that are related directly or indirectly to SFRs. These include the <u>natural killer (NK) cell receptors DNAM-1, CD96 and TIGIT</u> that act in&nbsp;anti-tumor immunity; and the <u>phosphatase PTPN12 and its substrates</u> that&nbsp;control phagocytosis by macrophages.&nbsp;Considering my expertise, collaborations and partnerships, I am in the fortunate position to delve deeply into these important immune signaling pathways. The tools and expertise that I have developed also allow me to test if these pathways can be targeted using new therapies of immune diseases and cancer. <strong>All these projects are currently funded by CIHR.</strong> <br> <br>While conducting these studies, one of my top priorities will remain <strong>training</strong> <strong>and mentoring</strong> the next generation of scientists and clinician-scientists. My trainees develop projects addressing fundamental questions in immunology,&nbsp;with the potential to uncover new avenues in translational research and to identify new targets for treating human diseases. They use state-of-the-art approaches ranging from mouse genetics to multiparameter single cell analyses, and have rich opportunities to collaborate with clinician-scientists and scientists in hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. As a result, they receive thorough training, and acquire a&nbsp;conceptually and technically deep experience and skills that are sought by employers in academia, government and the private sector.</p> </body> </html>