Carissa Chan, PhD

Dr. Chan’s [Sijbrandij Foundation Fellow] research focuses on gamma delta T cells, an unusual and understudied population of immune cells. While gamma delta T cells have strong antitumor activity, they are most highly stimulated not by cancer cells but by signals produced by microorganisms. Dr. Chan’s work examines the mechanisms by which gamma delta T cells detect and respond to leukemia versus pathogenic microorganisms, and how infection with these microorganisms subsequently impacts the trajectory of leukemia. This is particularly relevant to patients undergoing conventional cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy) that suppress the immune system, rendering them susceptible to infection. Furthermore, gamma delta T cells are capable of both rapid and long-term responses against their targets, which positions them as a tool to treat initial cancer as well as prevent disease recurrence. Dr. Chan received her PhD from Yale University, New Haven, and her BS from the University of California, Los Angeles.