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Expertise in Precision Health
Faculty investigate the mechanisms of immune response to specific diseases and develop interventions to improve patients’ health.

Cell, Gene and Immune Therapy

A person’s immune system is the first to respond to any systemic health threat. An individual’s genetic makeup can affect the mechanism of this response. The goal of the cell, gene, and immune therapy scientific pillar is to investigate the genetic and molecular mechanisms of human immune response to specific diseases, and develop gene and cellular-level interventions to improve patients’ health.

Development of new therapies for cancer

Clinical trials examining the efficacy of genome directed therapy for patients with triple negative breast cancer are already underway. Some success has been reported in using cell-based immunotherapy to treat refractory myeloma, and application of CAR T-cell therapy is also being explored for eligible patients.

Immunotherapies for Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative diseases

Increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the aging population makes it an important focus area for research. Several potential mechanisms including immunotherapy via infusion of monoclonal antibodies, are currently being studied. Another research direction is development of a preventive Alzheimer's disease vaccine as a practical alternative to high-cost, limited-supply treatment.

Learn about the Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility at IU School of Medicine.

42551-Hopewell, Emily

Emily L. Hopewell, PhD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics

Read Bio Emily L. Hopewell, PhD

6485-Cornetta, Kenneth

Kenneth G. Cornetta, MD

Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics

Read Bio Kenneth G. Cornetta, MD

61101-Salman, Huda

Huda Salman, MD, PhD, MA

Director, Brown Center for Immunotherapy

Read Bio Huda Salman, MD, PhD, MA