Dr. Julian Lum
Professor (Limited Term)
Molecular Life Sciences
- Contact:
- jjlum@bccancer.bc.ca 250-519-5718
- ORCID:
- 0000-0002-5624-3541
- Credentials:
- BSc, MSc, PhD (Ottawa)
- Area(s) of expertise:
- Cancer immunology, immunometabolism, autophagy, T-cell engineering, immunotherapy, and metabolomics.
Dr. Julian Lum is a Professor in the School of Molecular Life Sciences and a distinguished scientist at BC Cancer. Academic credentials include a BSc, MSc, and PhD from the University of Ottawa.
How immune cell metabolism shapes cancer treatment
Research Interests
Dr. Lum studies how metabolism influences the ability of T cells to recognize and attack cancer. Immune cells must obtain and use nutrients efficiently to survive, multiply, and function within the challenging environment of a tumour. His laboratory also examines autophagy, a cellular recycling process that can affect both cancer cells and immune cells. The group begins with observations from human patient samples and then investigates the underlying mechanisms using cultured cells and experimental models. A major goal is to understand why immune responses succeed in some patients but fail in others. The research is directed toward developing metabolic or immune-based interventions that improve cancer immunotherapy, particularly for ovarian and prostate cancers.