T cell killing cancer cell
T cells are a type of white blood cell (lymphocytes) that develop from stem cells in bone marrow and are part of the adaptive immune system, which constantly monitors the body for threats. They help protect the body from infection and may help fight cancer. Each T cell is unique, designed to fight only one type of intruder.
At Sanford Burnham Prebys, Linda Bradley, PhD, Jennifer Hope, PhD, and colleagues are working to help revive exhausted T cells to tackle immunotherapy-resistant cancers—a major emphasis in cancer research.
Meanwhile, Kelly Kersten, PhD, is studying how T cells fundamentally interact with cancer cells and the microenvironment, looking for ways to improve immunotherapies and reduce the likelihood of treatment resistance, which is common in many types of cancer.
About the art: Odra Noel is a medical doctor and PhD in basic science, with additional degrees in aesthetics and music. Her silk paintings focus primarily on human biology, often informed by microscopy. Wellcome Collection.