Immuno/Oncology (IO)

Duke University, Durham NC

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

The Immuno-Oncology Program (IO) established in 2021 unites basic, translational and clinical research scientists from the various disease site programs to address the urgent need to discover novel cancer immunobiologic processes that can be exploited to develop safer, more effective immunotherapies for cancer patients. Through targeted recruitment and engagement of investigators in other CCSG Research Programs and DCI Disease Groups who pursue IO research, we have enabled a comprehensive program of IO discovery and translation. IO is comprised of 54 full members from 8 departments and 2 schools within School of Medicine. The research activities of IO are organized into three Specific Aims: Aim 1) To discover cellular and molecular networks that generate productive immunity versus drive immune evasion within the TME; Aim 2) To devise strategies that target and modulate immune pathways to enhance effective anti-tumor immune responses and dampen immune toxicity; and Aim 3) To test novel cell and non-cell based anti-cancer immunotherapies in clinical trials. IO members have been assembled into the following Focus Teams (FT) that span the continuum of the Aims: FT#1 Cancer Immunobiology (discovery of mechanisms of T cell and dendritic cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment, and strategies to circumvent this dysfunction including primary and adaptive resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors); FT#2 Adoptive Cell Therapies (ACT) (development and testing of novel ACT with ex vivo expanded tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, CAR-T cells, and stem cell transplantation); FT#3 Non-Cell Based Therapies (development of strategies to induce systemic anti-cancer T cell responses with a novel monocyte-derived vaccine, a self-replicating RNA vaccine, an in situ vaccine approach with a novel oncolytic virus containing two payload genes, a recombinant polio:rhino virus, and a vector containing a MAVS gene); and FT#4 Immune Toxicity (understanding immune pathology so that strategies to dampen GVHD and immune related adverse events can be devised). Program activities to provide oversight and foster collaboration including a monthly work in progress seminar series, an annual retreat, and bi-monthly FT meetings have produced synergistic, multidisciplinary collaborative team science and led to the development of 14 investigator initiated clinical trials based on basic research discoveries made at Duke. To support the IITs, cGMP compliant cell therapies manufacturing resource, and an integrated comprehensive immune monitoring resource were established. Since the inception of the program in 2021 through 2023, program members published 469 cancer -focused papers, 112 (24%) are intra-programmatic, 193 (41%) are inter-programmatic collaborations and 153 (33%) are impact factor over 10. Total direct funding for full program members is $26.9M, of which $10.9M is peer reviewed, including $2.8M from the NCI. Finally, since the inception of the program in 2021 through 2023, the program enrolled 1,084 participants to all trials and 628 to interventional trials.