Dr. Brad Nelson

Dr. Brad Nelson
Position
Professor (Limited Term)
Biochemistry and Microbiology
Contact
Credentials

BSc (Hons) (UBC), PhD (California)

Area of expertise

Immune response to cancer, immunotherapy, T cell biology, cytokines, signal transduction, cell cycle regulation.

About

Dr. Nelson received training at the University of California at Berkeley (Ph.D.) and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (postdoc), and in 2003 became founding Director of the Deeley Research Centre. His laboratory is pursuing the development of innovative immunotherapies for cancer. Areas of focus include: understanding how tumour-reactive T cells and B cells promote survival of cancer patients; using genomic and bioinformatic methods to decipher the barriers to effective immunotherapy; and using the power of genetic engineering to create more precise and potent immune cells for use in immunotherapy.

Research interests

Our lab studies the immune response to cancer with the goal of developing immune-based strategies to prevent, detect and treat cancer. We use clinical specimens and murine models to investigate the complex interaction between the immune system and cancer at distinct stages of disease, including tumour initiation, progression, metastasis and recurrence. In collaboration with other groups, we are developing a clinical trials program to bring novel immunotherapies to patients at our centre.