Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI)
@parkerici.bsky.social
Our mission is to accelerate the development of breakthrough immune therapies to turn all cancers into curable diseases.
Can immune signals in blood predict ICI response in early-stage HR+ breast cancer? A new study with contributions from Elizabeth Mittendorf and Eliezer Van Allen links CD8 T cell turnover, IFN activity in B cells & monocyte shifts to outcomes: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Dynamic single-cell systemic immune responses in immunotherapy-treated early-stage HR+ breast cancer patients - npj Breast Cancer
npj Breast Cancer - Dynamic single-cell systemic immune responses in immunotherapy-treated early-stage HR+ breast cancer patients
www.nature.com
July 28, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Can immune signals in blood predict ICI response in early-stage HR+ breast cancer? A new study with contributions from Elizabeth Mittendorf and Eliezer Van Allen links CD8 T cell turnover, IFN activity in B cells & monocyte shifts to outcomes: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Immune recovery after transplant may rely less on the thymus & more on choosing the right stem cells. A PICI-supported @nature.com study identifies a unique group of blood-forming stem cells that improve immune rebuilding after transplant: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Kitlo hematopoietic stem cells exhibit distinct lymphoid-primed chromatin landscapes that enhance thymic reconstitution - Nature Communications
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiate into multiple lineages, with such capacity impacted by aging. Here the authors identify Kitlo HSCs as a functionally distinct population that exhibits dis...
www.nature.com
July 22, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Immune recovery after transplant may rely less on the thymus & more on choosing the right stem cells. A PICI-supported @nature.com study identifies a unique group of blood-forming stem cells that improve immune rebuilding after transplant: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
What if one cell therapy could seed another? A Phase I @nature.com study by @dgsomucla.bsky.social shows HSCs can be engineered to make tumor-targeting T cells—unlocking durable, self-renewing immunity.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#CancerImmunotherapy #CellTherapy #TCRT
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#CancerImmunotherapy #CellTherapy #TCRT
Human cancer-targeted immunity via transgenic hematopoietic stem cell progeny - Nature Communications
Therapeutic T cells engineered to recognize tumour antigens are frequently short-lived and acquire unfavourable phenotypes in tumours. Here authors show that a tandem approach using autologous T cells...
www.nature.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
What if one cell therapy could seed another? A Phase I @nature.com study by @dgsomucla.bsky.social shows HSCs can be engineered to make tumor-targeting T cells—unlocking durable, self-renewing immunity.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#CancerImmunotherapy #CellTherapy #TCRT
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#CancerImmunotherapy #CellTherapy #TCRT
What if tumors helped the immune system destroy them? A new PICI-supported study by @ucsanfrancisco.bsky.social & @washumedicine.bsky.social shows ATG9A-deficient tumors are vulnerable to macrophages. Add Trastuzumab + CSF1Ri? Full regression—no T cells: nature.com/articles/s41...
Exploitable mechanisms of antibody and CAR mediated macrophage cytotoxicity - Nature Communications
The mechanism of macrophage cytotoxicity against cancer cells requires further illustration. By employing CRISPR screening in CAR-macrophage and cancer cell co-culture system, the authors identify dep...
nature.com
July 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
What if tumors helped the immune system destroy them? A new PICI-supported study by @ucsanfrancisco.bsky.social & @washumedicine.bsky.social shows ATG9A-deficient tumors are vulnerable to macrophages. Add Trastuzumab + CSF1Ri? Full regression—no T cells: nature.com/articles/s41...
Can a common autoimmune drug help reverse a serious side effect of cancer immunotherapy?
A new PICI-supported @uclahealth.org study says maybe yes. JAK inhibitors may prevent or even reverse type 1 diabetes caused by checkpoint inhibitors. (1/2)
A new PICI-supported @uclahealth.org study says maybe yes. JAK inhibitors may prevent or even reverse type 1 diabetes caused by checkpoint inhibitors. (1/2)
July 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Can a common autoimmune drug help reverse a serious side effect of cancer immunotherapy?
A new PICI-supported @uclahealth.org study says maybe yes. JAK inhibitors may prevent or even reverse type 1 diabetes caused by checkpoint inhibitors. (1/2)
A new PICI-supported @uclahealth.org study says maybe yes. JAK inhibitors may prevent or even reverse type 1 diabetes caused by checkpoint inhibitors. (1/2)
Congratulations to @pelkalab.bsky.social (@gladstoneinst.bsky.social) on receiving the 2025 @aaas.org Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award. Her paradigm-shifting work in colorectal cancer is shaping the way we understand and potentially treat solid tumors. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
July 1, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Congratulations to @pelkalab.bsky.social (@gladstoneinst.bsky.social) on receiving the 2025 @aaas.org Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award. Her paradigm-shifting work in colorectal cancer is shaping the way we understand and potentially treat solid tumors. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
At #FOCIS2025, PICI President of Research Ira Mellman, PhD, delivered a keynote on how decades of discovery are rapidly becoming durable treatments — from checkpoint inhibitors and dendritic cells to cancer vaccines and engineered T cells.
June 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
At #FOCIS2025, PICI President of Research Ira Mellman, PhD, delivered a keynote on how decades of discovery are rapidly becoming durable treatments — from checkpoint inhibitors and dendritic cells to cancer vaccines and engineered T cells.
KRAS mutations are among the most common—and hardest—targets in solid tumors. A new study from @pennmedicine.bsky.social introduces NeoCARs: T cells engineered to target mutant KRAS (G12V) via pMHC. IL-12 armoring + TCR knockout boost potency and safety: doi.org/10.1016/j.cc...
June 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
KRAS mutations are among the most common—and hardest—targets in solid tumors. A new study from @pennmedicine.bsky.social introduces NeoCARs: T cells engineered to target mutant KRAS (G12V) via pMHC. IL-12 armoring + TCR knockout boost potency and safety: doi.org/10.1016/j.cc...
Thrilled to celebrate our CEO, @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social as a 2025 CNBC Changemaker! From NIH research to the American Cancer Society to leading PICI, her mission: get innovation to those who need it most. Learn more:
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/18/c...
#Changemaker #CancerResearch
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/18/c...
#Changemaker #CancerResearch
CEO of Sean Parker's breakthrough cancer drug institute on leading new race for cure
Karen Knudsen is leading Sean Parker's cancer immunotherapy incubator where philanthropy and venture capital meet.
www.cnbc.com
June 18, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Thrilled to celebrate our CEO, @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social as a 2025 CNBC Changemaker! From NIH research to the American Cancer Society to leading PICI, her mission: get innovation to those who need it most. Learn more:
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/18/c...
#Changemaker #CancerResearch
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/18/c...
#Changemaker #CancerResearch
120+ minds. 3 days. 1 mission. At the PICI Spring Scientific Retreat, we aligned on what’s next in cancer immunotherapy. From AI to predictive biomarkers & smarter cell therapies, we’re moving breakthroughs from bench to bedside with urgency & purpose. Full recap: www.parkerici.org/the-latest/d...
June 17, 2025 at 11:51 PM
120+ minds. 3 days. 1 mission. At the PICI Spring Scientific Retreat, we aligned on what’s next in cancer immunotherapy. From AI to predictive biomarkers & smarter cell therapies, we’re moving breakthroughs from bench to bedside with urgency & purpose. Full recap: www.parkerici.org/the-latest/d...
PICI Investigator @judithagudo.bsky.social, PhD, was recognized with the 2025 CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Award, one of immuno-oncology’s highest honors from the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Congratulations, Dr. Agudo!
www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...
www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...
June 17, 2025 at 2:46 AM
PICI Investigator @judithagudo.bsky.social, PhD, was recognized with the 2025 CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Award, one of immuno-oncology’s highest honors from the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Congratulations, Dr. Agudo!
www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...
www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...
“Why stop now, when we haven’t yet realized immunotherapy’s full potential?” In @natrevdrugdiscov.nature.com, Ira Mellman, PhD, President of Research at PICI, shares what’s next in Immunotherapy — from curative cell therapies to smarter T cells.
🔗 nature.com/articles/d41...
#Immunotherapy #Cancer
🔗 nature.com/articles/d41...
#Immunotherapy #Cancer
June 14, 2025 at 1:53 AM
“Why stop now, when we haven’t yet realized immunotherapy’s full potential?” In @natrevdrugdiscov.nature.com, Ira Mellman, PhD, President of Research at PICI, shares what’s next in Immunotherapy — from curative cell therapies to smarter T cells.
🔗 nature.com/articles/d41...
#Immunotherapy #Cancer
🔗 nature.com/articles/d41...
#Immunotherapy #Cancer
Congratulations to Anusha Kalbasi, MD, PICI Investigator at @stanfordmedicine.bsky.social, on receiving the 2025 CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Award. By advancing cell therapies for tough cancers, he is translating science into hope for patients who need it most.
www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...
www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...
June 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Congratulations to Anusha Kalbasi, MD, PICI Investigator at @stanfordmedicine.bsky.social, on receiving the 2025 CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Award. By advancing cell therapies for tough cancers, he is translating science into hope for patients who need it most.
www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...
www.cancerresearch.org/media-room/2...
At #ASCO25, PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social spoke with @endpts.com about how PICI is accelerating trials, investing in AI & protecting progress as funding comes under threat.
→ Full conversation: events.endpts.com/asco25/on-de...
→ Full conversation: events.endpts.com/asco25/on-de...
June 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
At #ASCO25, PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social spoke with @endpts.com about how PICI is accelerating trials, investing in AI & protecting progress as funding comes under threat.
→ Full conversation: events.endpts.com/asco25/on-de...
→ Full conversation: events.endpts.com/asco25/on-de...
Celebrating Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf, Co-Director of the PICI Center at Dana-Farber, on her election as @ASCO President for 2026–27! Her work is advancing cancer care.
🎧 Hear more: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
🔗 Read more: www.onclive.com/view/dr-mitt...
#ASCO #Immunotherapy #PICIProud
🎧 Hear more: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
🔗 Read more: www.onclive.com/view/dr-mitt...
#ASCO #Immunotherapy #PICIProud
June 7, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Celebrating Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf, Co-Director of the PICI Center at Dana-Farber, on her election as @ASCO President for 2026–27! Her work is advancing cancer care.
🎧 Hear more: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
🔗 Read more: www.onclive.com/view/dr-mitt...
#ASCO #Immunotherapy #PICIProud
🎧 Hear more: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
🔗 Read more: www.onclive.com/view/dr-mitt...
#ASCO #Immunotherapy #PICIProud
THIS MORNING: PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social joins @endpts.com at #ASCO2025 to discuss PICI’s evolving model and the imperative to align research, policy and investment with the realities facing patients today.
Register and watch live at 10:35 am CDT: events.endpts.com/asco25
Register and watch live at 10:35 am CDT: events.endpts.com/asco25
June 4, 2025 at 12:34 PM
THIS MORNING: PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social joins @endpts.com at #ASCO2025 to discuss PICI’s evolving model and the imperative to align research, policy and investment with the realities facing patients today.
Register and watch live at 10:35 am CDT: events.endpts.com/asco25
Register and watch live at 10:35 am CDT: events.endpts.com/asco25
Read this Endpoints article for insights on multiple glioblastoma study findings presented at #ASCO2025 with key contributions from Marcela Maus, MD, PhD (Massachusetts General Hospital), as well as Carl June, MD and Donald O’Rourke, MD (@pennmedicine.bsky.social)
#ASCO25: Promising advances in cell therapies to treat aggressive brain cancer. The trials are small, but the data revealed last weekend is encouraging where other treatments have shown little effect.
endpoints.news/asco25-brain...
endpoints.news/asco25-brain...
At ASCO, cell therapies for deadly form of brain cancer make early strides
Early studies of cell therapies for brain cancers show long-term survival in select patients, including promising results from City of Hope, IN8Bio, UPenn & MGH, while others saw rapid progression.
endpoints.news
June 3, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Read this Endpoints article for insights on multiple glioblastoma study findings presented at #ASCO2025 with key contributions from Marcela Maus, MD, PhD (Massachusetts General Hospital), as well as Carl June, MD and Donald O’Rourke, MD (@pennmedicine.bsky.social)
Reposted by Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI)
David Barbie, MD, presents insights from the phase 3 ADRIATIC trial, examining clinical and molecular traits of early progressors and long-term survivors using durvalumab vs placebo after chemoradiotherapy in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. #ASCO25
June 1, 2025 at 10:19 PM
David Barbie, MD, presents insights from the phase 3 ADRIATIC trial, examining clinical and molecular traits of early progressors and long-term survivors using durvalumab vs placebo after chemoradiotherapy in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. #ASCO25
Today at #ASCO2025, @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, receives the Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award—recognizing a career dedicated to turning bold research into real patient impact.
9:45 AM–12:00 PM CDT | Hall B1
parkerici.org/asco2025 (1/3)
9:45 AM–12:00 PM CDT | Hall B1
parkerici.org/asco2025 (1/3)
parkerici.org
May 31, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Today at #ASCO2025, @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, receives the Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award—recognizing a career dedicated to turning bold research into real patient impact.
9:45 AM–12:00 PM CDT | Hall B1
parkerici.org/asco2025 (1/3)
9:45 AM–12:00 PM CDT | Hall B1
parkerici.org/asco2025 (1/3)
Tomorrow at #ASCO2025, @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social, CEO of PICI, will receive the Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award—one of oncology’s highest recognitions.
From leading the American Cancer Society to advancing @parkerici.bsky.social, her work exemplifies bold science and strategic leadership.
From leading the American Cancer Society to advancing @parkerici.bsky.social, her work exemplifies bold science and strategic leadership.
May 31, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Tomorrow at #ASCO2025, @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social, CEO of PICI, will receive the Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award—one of oncology’s highest recognitions.
From leading the American Cancer Society to advancing @parkerici.bsky.social, her work exemplifies bold science and strategic leadership.
From leading the American Cancer Society to advancing @parkerici.bsky.social, her work exemplifies bold science and strategic leadership.
PICI Network Highlights: Today at #ASCO2025, Oral Abstract 2008 presents CARv3‑TEAM‑E for recurrent GBM.
Time 5:09–5:21 PM CDT | Room S406, McCormick Place.
PICI investigator Marcela Maus, MD, PhD (Mass General) and colleagues are re‑arming T cells to outwit GBM heterogeneity. (1/2)
Time 5:09–5:21 PM CDT | Room S406, McCormick Place.
PICI investigator Marcela Maus, MD, PhD (Mass General) and colleagues are re‑arming T cells to outwit GBM heterogeneity. (1/2)
May 30, 2025 at 10:21 PM
PICI Network Highlights: Today at #ASCO2025, Oral Abstract 2008 presents CARv3‑TEAM‑E for recurrent GBM.
Time 5:09–5:21 PM CDT | Room S406, McCormick Place.
PICI investigator Marcela Maus, MD, PhD (Mass General) and colleagues are re‑arming T cells to outwit GBM heterogeneity. (1/2)
Time 5:09–5:21 PM CDT | Room S406, McCormick Place.
PICI investigator Marcela Maus, MD, PhD (Mass General) and colleagues are re‑arming T cells to outwit GBM heterogeneity. (1/2)
The @ascocancer.bsky.social Annual Meeting starts Friday in Chicago. PICI highlights include:
→ Top ASCO honor for @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social
→ Promising glioblastoma advances
→ 50+ oral sessions, posters, e-papers & a clinical science symposium
See more: www.parkerici.org/the-latest/a...
→ Top ASCO honor for @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social
→ Promising glioblastoma advances
→ 50+ oral sessions, posters, e-papers & a clinical science symposium
See more: www.parkerici.org/the-latest/a...
May 30, 2025 at 12:44 AM
The @ascocancer.bsky.social Annual Meeting starts Friday in Chicago. PICI highlights include:
→ Top ASCO honor for @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social
→ Promising glioblastoma advances
→ 50+ oral sessions, posters, e-papers & a clinical science symposium
See more: www.parkerici.org/the-latest/a...
→ Top ASCO honor for @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social
→ Promising glioblastoma advances
→ 50+ oral sessions, posters, e-papers & a clinical science symposium
See more: www.parkerici.org/the-latest/a...
Prozac‑class SSRIs just boosted tumor‑fighting T cells. Cell data: blocking SERT with fluoxetine or citalopram halves tumor size in 5 models and deepens PD‑1 response, clearing some melanomas and colon tumors. High SERT predicts poorer survival—now a druggable checkpoint. Study 👉 bit.ly/4jaJ59H
Serotonin transporter inhibits antitumor immunity through regulating the intratumoral serotonin axis
Serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibits CD8 T cell antitumor immunity by depleting intratumoral
serotonin. SERT-blocking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants
enhance CD8 T cell ...
bit.ly
May 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Prozac‑class SSRIs just boosted tumor‑fighting T cells. Cell data: blocking SERT with fluoxetine or citalopram halves tumor size in 5 models and deepens PD‑1 response, clearing some melanomas and colon tumors. High SERT predicts poorer survival—now a druggable checkpoint. Study 👉 bit.ly/4jaJ59H
At #STATBreakthroughWest, PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social joined ASCO, MGB & @statnews.com to discuss how AI must move from hype to impact. From RADIOHEAD to Xaira Tx, the PICI Network is using AI + biology to speed trials and move bold science toward cures.
www.statnews.com/2025/05/16/c...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/16/c...
May 17, 2025 at 1:37 AM
At #STATBreakthroughWest, PICI CEO @drkarenknudsen.bsky.social joined ASCO, MGB & @statnews.com to discuss how AI must move from hype to impact. From RADIOHEAD to Xaira Tx, the PICI Network is using AI + biology to speed trials and move bold science toward cures.
www.statnews.com/2025/05/16/c...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/16/c...
We’re building a model to move science faster to patient impact. That’s why we’re proud to be featured at the 7th Annual Emerging Frontiers in Oncology on May 22, which explores how science, capital & clinical urgency are reshaping oncology.
Sign up and learn more: emergingfrontiersoncology.com
Sign up and learn more: emergingfrontiersoncology.com
7TH ANNUAL EMERGING FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
May 22, 2025 | 1:00PM - 8:00 PM ET
MassBio Hub | 700 Tech Square 5th floor, Cambridge, MA
Reception | Catalyst Restaurant
emergingfrontiersoncology.com
May 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
We’re building a model to move science faster to patient impact. That’s why we’re proud to be featured at the 7th Annual Emerging Frontiers in Oncology on May 22, which explores how science, capital & clinical urgency are reshaping oncology.
Sign up and learn more: emergingfrontiersoncology.com
Sign up and learn more: emergingfrontiersoncology.com