Scott
E. Strome, M.D. Dr. Strome's research program is focused on the
study of mechanisms to harness the immune response to squamous cell carcinoma
of the head and neck (SCCHN) for purposes of diagnoses/monitoring and therapy.
From a diagnostic perspective, Dr. Strome’s laboratory is studying the
humoral response to specific tumor antigens both as a prognostic indicator and
as tool to identify antigen specific T cell function.
The therapeutic component of Dr. Strome’s research is geared toward the development of antigen specific vaccines to stimulate priming of the immune response with subsequent manipulation of specific costimulatory pathways to enhance antitumor effector T cell function. These studies include characterizing the protein structure and function of costimulatory molecules at the molecular level and assessing their suitability for clinical use.
Additionally, Dr. Strome’s laboratory is developing means to determine the utility of bone marrow derived effector cells for antitumor therapy. Dr. Strome’s laboratory is funded by a combination of extramural, industry, institutional and philanthropic support.
Andrei
Chapoval, Ph.D. Dr. Chapoval's research focuses on study the role
of co-stimulation in lymphocyte activation and differentiation. Co-stimulation
is a critical event for T cell activation, determining the functional outcome
of T cell interaction with antigen presenting cells and/or target cells (activation
vs. anergy; effector vs. memory; Th1 vs. Th2 etc.). An understanding of how
to manipulate co-stimulatory pathways will provide new mechanism-based avenues
to augment immunity against head and neck cancer.
Rodney
Taylor, M.D. Dr. Taylor's research interests include clinical outcomes
and disparity research for head and neck cancer patients.
He also is co-principal investigator and recipient of the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute 2003 Clinical Innovator Award investigating tobacco exposure and chronic sinusitis.
Jeffrey
S. Wolf, M.D. Dr. Wolf’s research program focuses on tumor
biology of head and neck cancer and novel therapeutics. His specific research
goals include deciphering the complex mechanism of lactoferrin therapy in head
and neck cancer and translating these basic discoveries into clinical practice.
Dr. Wolf's clinical research interests relate to the effect of tobacco smoke exposure on chronic sinusitis and informed consent practices in Otolaryngology.
Duane
S. Sewell, M.D. Dr. Sewell's primary research interest is the immunobiology
of head and neck cancer. He is investigating novel ways to harness the immune
system to treat head and neck cancer. In particular, his laboratory is studying
the use of recombinant bacterial vaccines and DNA vaccines to generate a potent
immune response against tumor antigens associated with head and neck cancer.
More specifically, he has targeted the tumor antigen E7,which is present in
all head and neck cancers transformed by the human papilloma virus (HPV). This
amounts to roughly 25% of cancers. By administering his HPV-specific vaccines,
Dr. Sewell can generate lymphocytes that are specific for E7 and cause the regression
of HPV-associated tumors in an animal model. His laboratory is currently studying
new vaccines and new routes of administration in anticipation of clinical trials
for all types of head and neck cancer, including HPV-associated cancer.
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