Full Name
Prof Dario Campana
Designation
Professor and Mrs. Lee Kong Chian Chair in Advanced Cellular Therapy, Dept. of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Ling School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Bio
Dr. Campana obtained his MD and PhD degrees in Italy, where he trained in hematology. He received his laboratory training in immunology at the Royal Free Hospital in London (UK), before moving to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis (TN, USA), where he was Full Member in the Departments of Oncology and Pathology, and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee.
He is currently Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and the Mrs. Lee Kong Chian Chair in Advanced Cellular Therapy. Dr. Campana’s main interest is translational research in oncology, focusing on immunotherapy. He is the recipient of consecutive Singapore Translational Research Investigator awards. Other recent awards include the Gabbay Award in Biotechnology and Medicine in 2019, the National University of Singapore Research Recognition Award and the Republic of Singapore President’s Technology Award in 2020. He holds several patents and is the scientific founder of three biotechnology companies.
He is currently Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and the Mrs. Lee Kong Chian Chair in Advanced Cellular Therapy. Dr. Campana’s main interest is translational research in oncology, focusing on immunotherapy. He is the recipient of consecutive Singapore Translational Research Investigator awards. Other recent awards include the Gabbay Award in Biotechnology and Medicine in 2019, the National University of Singapore Research Recognition Award and the Republic of Singapore President’s Technology Award in 2020. He holds several patents and is the scientific founder of three biotechnology companies.
Topic
Converting immune cells into living drugs
Abstract
Immune cells can be engineered to kill tumor cells while sparing healthy tissues. Clinical trials with T cells redirected against leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma through the expression of chimeric antigen receptors (“CAR”) have validated the potential of immune cells as living drugs to treat cancer. The clinical efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy has stimulated great interest in this area of translational research, encouraged efforts to further improve efficacy, and renewed enthusiasm for exploring the anti-cancer potential of other immune cells.
Our laboratory developed the CAR which became the key component of the first FDA-approved CAR-T cell product. Subsequent research improved this technology, extended it to target T-cell malignancies and adapted it to enhance the antitumor effect of antibodies. In addition, methods to expand and genetically engineer natural killer cells have been translated into first-in-human clinical trials for patients with leukemia and solid tumors. The vision underlying these efforts is that many of the current cancer treatment modalities will be ultimately replaced by combination immunotherapy. Recent advances and emerging challenges in cell therapy of cancer will be discussed.
Our laboratory developed the CAR which became the key component of the first FDA-approved CAR-T cell product. Subsequent research improved this technology, extended it to target T-cell malignancies and adapted it to enhance the antitumor effect of antibodies. In addition, methods to expand and genetically engineer natural killer cells have been translated into first-in-human clinical trials for patients with leukemia and solid tumors. The vision underlying these efforts is that many of the current cancer treatment modalities will be ultimately replaced by combination immunotherapy. Recent advances and emerging challenges in cell therapy of cancer will be discussed.
