Harnessing the immune system to battle cancer

Principal Advisor: Dr Sherry Wu

Research group page: Wu Lab - Cancer therapeutics

Organisational unit: School of Biomedical Sciences

While stimulating our own immune system to recognize and attack tumour cells represents an attractive means to facilitate complete elimination of tumours, emerging data suggest that many of the immunotherapy tools have promising but limited effects in cancer. To address this unmet need, the project will focus on developing novel strategies to enhance anti-tumour immunity in cancer. We will utilise systems-based approach combined with CRISPR/RNA interference technology to target clinically important immune suppressive factors with the goal of enhancing cytotoxic T-cell functions in tumours. Ultimately, the ability to effectively stimulate the immune system to attack tumour cells could significantly improve clinical outcome.