The rockefeller university

Event Details

Type

Friday Lecture Series

Speaker(s)

James Allison, Ph.D., professor and Vivian L. Smith Distinguished Chair, department of immunology, executive director, immunotherapy platform, deputy director, David H. Koch Center for Applied Studies in Genitourinary Cancer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Speaker bio(s)

Dr. Allison’s fundamental discoveries include the definition of the structure of the T cell antigen receptor; demonstration that the T cell molecule CD28 provides costimulatory signals necessary for full T cell activation; and identification of the inhibitory checkpoint molecule CTLA-4, which inhibits activated T cells. He proposed that immune checkpoint blockade might be a powerful strategy for therapy of many cancer types, and conducted preclinical experiments showing its potential. He was involved in the development of Ipilimumab, which was approved by the FDA for treatment of metastatic melanoma in 2011. In 2014, the FDA approved two antibodies to PD-1, a related immune checkpoint, for the treatment of melanoma. In 2015, the FDA approved five additional CTLA-4 and PD-1 antibodies and combinations of both for the treatment of a variety of additional indications, including melanoma and lung and kidney cancer. Dr. Allison’s development of immune checkpoint blockade transformed cancer therapy and has been responsible for saving the lives of thousands of cancer patients.

 

Dr. Allison obtained his B.S. and Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, he joined the faculty of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Science Park in in 1974 as assistant biochemist. He moved to the University of California, Berkeley, in 1985 as professor of immunology. At Berkeley, he served as director of the Cancer Research Laboratory, head of the division of immunology in the department of molecular and cell biology, and co-chair of the department of molecular and cell biology. In 2004, he moved to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he was professor and chair of immunology and director of the Ludwig Center for Cancer Immunotherapy. In 2012, he returned to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is professor and chair of immunology and executive director of the immunotherapy platform. He was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator from 1997 until his move to MD Anderson.

 

Dr. Allison has received numerous honors for his work, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Immunologists, the Novartis Award for Clinical Immunology, the Breakthrough Prize in Bioscience, the Canada Gairdner International Award, the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, the Harvey Prize in Human Health, and the ASCO Science of Oncology Award. In 2015, he received the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award. Dr. Allison is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

Open to

Public

Host

James Darnell, M.D.

Reception

Refreshments, 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Abby Lounge

Contact

Justin Sloboda

Phone

(212) 327-7785

Sponsor

Justin Sloboda
(212) 327-7785
jsloboda@rockefeller.edu

Readings

http://librarynews.rockefeller.edu/?p=4478