The Ramakrishna laboratory focuses on optimizing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies for children with cancer. Utilizing single-cell multi-dimensional analyses of patient samples from cellular immunotherapy clinical trials, we identify biomarkers and/or drivers of CAR T cell activity in patients. Contributors to CAR T cell activity likely include CAR T cell intrinsic, tumor intrinsic, or immune microenvironment factors, all of which our analysis platforms are poised to assess. By understanding these contributors to CAR T cell activity in patients, we can develop approaches to enhance these therapies. Our team works to validate biomarkers that can be implemented for clinical decision-making and to assess manipulatable drivers that can be addressed to optimize therapy. Within the ecosystem of the Stanford Cancer Cellular Therapy team, we have the ability to translate these optimized approaches back to the clinic, with the ultimate goal of cure for our patients.

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