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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Elizabeth Campbell
PhD Proposal Presentation
Date: November 6, 2017
Time: 1-3pm
Location: IBB 1128 (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Committee:
Advisor: Todd A. Sulchek, PhD
Edmund K. Waller, MD, PhD
Krishnendu Roy, PhD
Edward A. Botchwey, PhD
Gabe A. Kwong, PhD
Title: Crosslinking activated immune cells with tumor cells using a novel Janus particle platform
Abstract: Although CD8+ T cells commonly migrate to solid tumors, cancer cells suppress and evade these cells through a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. As a result, recruited cytotoxic T cells are rendered anergic or apoptotic and are thus ineffective at killing cancer cells. Cancer is traditionally treated using chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery; however, these treatments are often unsuccessful alone and are usually used in some combination – resulting in numerous side effects. Antibody therapy, include PD-L1 blockade, has shown great promise but only a subset of cancer patients respond to treatment. We have developed a novel particle platform capable of two distinct biological functions. The overarching hypothesis of the proposed research is that physically crosslinking and activating CD8+ T cells with cancer cells will enhance cytotoxicity. We will optimize a particle to maximize T cell activation and subsequent cytotoxicity. This will inform the design of our engineered Janus particle capable of specifically targeting cancer cells and physically crosslinking T cells and selected cancer cells. Enhanced particle-mediated T cell cytotoxicity will be assessed for specificity and efficacy using in vitro co-cultures
