Magnani Lab
Cancer Immunotherapy and Cell Engineering
Our research focuses on immunotherapy and uses genetic engineering to unleash our immune system against cancer. We apply non-viral engineering to design next-generation CAR T cells.
Research Interests
Our research seeks to develop new cancer treatments, specifically CAR T-cell immunotherapy. The idea is to unleash our immune system against cancer. To this end, blood cells are weaponized through the use of genetic engineering and become living drugs. These therapies are personalized for each patient. Specifically, white blood cells, also referred to as T cells, are collected from the patient's blood. In the lab, T cells are genetically engineered with recombinant DNA and infused back into our patient. Now T cells have a new receptor, called chimeric antigen receptor or CAR, which acts as a radar and allows T cells to precisely recognize a target on the cancer cells and kill them.