Current Projects

"Generation of anti-PAG monoclonal antibodies to treat solid malignancies"

Every year, 400,000 cancer patients in the US receive treatment with anti-PD-1 antibodies, a type of immunotherapy that releases a brake on the anticancer actions of T cells. However, only about 25% of patients respond well. Seeking to improve outcomes, the Mor lab discovered a new protein called PAG that acts as a checkpoint on T cells, limiting their cancer-killing actions. When PAG is absent, the PD-1 pathway is blocked, making T cells more effective against cancer cells. In lab experiments, T cells without PAG showed stronger ability to kill cancer cells, and mice without PAG had slower-growing tumors. The Mor group created antibodies against PAG by immunizing mice and selecting the best ones that can block tumor growth in animal models by boosting anti-cancer T cell activity. Now, they plan to expand their collection of PAG antibodies, improve their effectiveness, and test them in models that mimic human biology before taking them to clinical trials.

"Therapeutic targeting of cancer-associated DNA hypermethylation"

Lead Investigators: Benjamin Izar, MD, PhD, Chao Lu, PhD

"Development of inhibitors of the SMARCAL1 DNA translocase"

Lead Investigator: Alberto Ciccia, PhD

"Bispecific Phagocyte Engagers as Anti-Amyloid Strategy"

Lead Investigator: Suzanne Lentzsch, MD, PhD

"Novel Protein Translation Inhibitor Augments Epigenetic Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer"

Lead Investigator: Susan Bates, MD