Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a newly discovered type of immune cell that, although they lack receptors to recognize specific invaders, act as our body's first line of defense against infections. ILCs also play a crucial role in maintaining tissue health and fighting cancer. When it comes to solid tumors, ILCs infiltrate the tumor environment and attack cancer cells by releasing substances that inhibit tumor growth, presenting tumor fragments to other immune cells, and recruiting additional immune reinforcements. Our goal is to harness the potential of ILCs for cancer treatment, particularly for solid tumors, by equipping them with a specialized tool known as a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). CARs enable ILCs to recognize and bind to tumor cells, triggering their tumor-killing functions. However, developing effec-tive CAR-ILCs is still an unexplored area that requires further investigation. We have recently discov-ered that ILCs can be derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are versatile cells ca-pable of developing into any cell type. In this study, we plan to modify the genetic and environmental conditions during the development of these cells in culture to enhance the production of CAR-ILCs. We will then evaluate their tumor-killing efficiency in both cell cultures and animal models. This research aims to lay the groundwork for creating a new class of immune cells with the potential to target and treat aggressive cancers.