{"660344":{"#nid":"660344","#data":{"type":"event","title":"PhD Defense by Lacey Birnbaum","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELacey Birnbaum\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nBME PhD Defense Presentation\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cstrong\u003EDate\u003C\/strong\u003E: 2022-08-30\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cstrong\u003ETime\u003C\/strong\u003E: 2 pm\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cstrong\u003ELocation \/ Meeting Link\u003C\/strong\u003E: HSRB E282, Zoom \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/emory.zoom.us\/j\/94213659394?pwd=bi95RDZRWWJjVWljd29XTlQwSWR4UT09\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/emory.zoom.us\/j\/94213659394?pwd=bi95RDZRWWJjVWljd29XTlQwSWR4UT09\u003C\/a\u003E Meeting ID: 942 1365 9394 Passcode: 282189\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cstrong\u003ECommittee Members:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nDr. Erik C. Dreaden (advisor); Dr. Gabriel Kwong; Dr. Gregory B. Lesinski (Emory); Dr. Wilbur Lam; Dr. Sarwish Rafiq (Emory)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cstrong\u003ETitle\u003C\/strong\u003E: Development of optically responsive cytokine cancer immunotherapies\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cstrong\u003EAbstract:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCytokines are powerful immune modulatory proteins that have demonstrated therapeutic utility in both cancer and auto-immune disease therapy. For example, interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy can induce complete and durable responses in a subset of patients with advanced cancer (metastatic melanoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma). However, IL-2, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines often suffer from poor pharmacokinetics and high toxicity that limits their clinical effectiveness. To address these limitations, we have engineered prodrug variants of immuno-stimulatory cytokines that are reversibly inactivated via chemical modification with photo-labile polymers. Wavelength-specific light exposure restores the receptor binding ability of these \u0026quot;photo-cytokines\u0026quot;, thus modulating their activity on immune cells by several orders of magnitude. We first establish that photo-labile polymer modification enables visible photon-dependent control of antigen-specific immune responses ex vivo and extends cytokine pharmacokinetics in vivo. Next, using photo-cytokines that differentially respond to visible and near-infrared light, we demonstrate Boolean logic based upon drug-induced T cytolytic activity and multicolor light exposure. Lastly, we show light-guided cytokine activation enhances CAR T cell therapy in vitro and that photo-cytokines can be controllably activated in vivo. These studies establish a set of light activatable tools in which to better understand and treat immune dysfunction-driven diseases including cancer.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Development of optically responsive cytokine cancer immunotherapies"}],"uid":"27707","created_gmt":"2022-08-19 15:11:40","changed_gmt":"2022-08-19 15:11:40","author":"Tatianna Richardson","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2022-08-30T15:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2022-08-30T17:00:00-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2022-08-30T17:00:00-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2022-08-30 19:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2022-08-30 21:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2022-08-30 21:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"100811","name":"Phd Defense"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1788","name":"Other\/Miscellaneous"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"78771","name":"Public"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}