Date Posted
Speaker
Jonathan Villena-Vargas, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Cardiothoracic Surgery
Weill Cornell Medicine
Date of presentation: Friday, April 19, 2024 | 11am EST
As a Thoracic Surgeon and Early-Stage Investigator at Weill Cornell Medicine, Jonathan Villena-Vargas specializes in T cell-based immunotherapy for lung cancer. Through his endeavors, he established a novel biobank and mouse model to investigate metastatic relapse in early-stage lung cancer, emphasizing the role of ICB therapy on tumor-draining lymph nodes. His research has garnered support from an NIH supplement grant, diverse funding sources, and a significant collaboration with Kadmon Therapeutics to explore IL-15 immunomodulators. He has presented my preliminary findings at major National and International conferences in both 2022 and 2023. Importantly, Jonathan aims to leverage nodal memory response to augment our understanding of immune correlates. This ambition sets the stage for enhanced biomarkers and the evolution of next-gen ICB to tackle the global issue of resectable lung cancer. Committed to bridging lab discoveries with clinical applications, he envisions a future as a leading surgeon-scientist at WCM.
Abstract:
Metastasis is the primary cause of mortality in surgically resectable (Sx) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with early detection advancements failing to curb metastatic recurrence. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway inhibition, while standard, fails in up to 80% of patients, underscoring the need for effective treatments, predictive biomarkers, and strategies against metastatic relapse. This research focuses on the role of PD-1 blockade in developing tumor-specific functional T cell memory essential for post-Sx immune surveillance. We aim to identify CD8+ T cell subsets critical for post-surgical immunity, hypothesizing that stem cell-like CD8+ T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes are critical for immunity. Our objectives include elucidating these cells' role in anti-tumor immunity and their contribution to immune responses. This study will advance understanding of T-cell immunosurveillance, impacting therapeutic strategies, clinical trials, and vaccine development in NSCLC, utilizing a novel "live T cell" biobank and a Sx murine model for comprehensive analysis.
Read more about this early career opportunity!
Please email NCIDCPworkforce@mail.nih.gov if you have any questions or inquiries about this research seminar series.
Especially if:
- You want to contact a past DCP Early Career Scientist after their research talk.
- You want to be considered for a meeting with a DCP Early Career Scientist on the day of their research talk.
- You are having trouble finding when and how to attend the DCP Early Career Scientist Spotlight Research Seminar.