PMWC LUMINARY AWARD
Discoveries led to adoptive immunotherapy with genetically engineered T cells
M.D., Head, Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Professor of Medicine and Immunology, University of Washington; Member, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunology
Q&A Interview
Biography
Dr. Greenberg’s research has focused on elucidating fundamental principles of T-cell and tumor interactions; developing cellular and molecular approaches to manipulate T-cell immunity; and translating insights to the clinic enabling adoptive therapy with genetically engineered T cells. Internationally recognized as a leader in the cancer immunology field, his laboratory performed some of the earliest studies focused on how immune T cells can recognize and eliminate malignant cells in the context of progressing tumors. Dr. Greenberg’s lab has developed technologies to isolate and expand functional, antigen-specific T cells to numbers large enough to be effective when given to patients as “adoptive” immune-boosting therapy. More recently, these advances, along with efforts to identify and validate tumor antigen targets, led to the development of anti-cancer therapies using naturally isolated and expanded or genetically-engineered T cells. He has authored more than 280 manuscripts and received many honors including the Cancer Research Institute’s William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Tumor Immunology; the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s Team Science Award for Career Achievements; and election to the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, the American College of Physicians, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Cancer Research and an editor-in-chief of Caner Immunology Research. Dr. Greenberg received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, an MD from State University of New York, a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Immunology from University of California, San Diego and a Clinical and Research Fellowship in Oncology from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.