The ImmunoVerse™ The T-Cell Transformation, ft. Dr. Philip Greenberg
May 22, 2025
Dr. Phil Greenberg, a leading immunologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, shares his groundbreaking work on engineered T-cell therapies. He discusses the evolution from early graft-versus-leukemia insights to modern clinical successes. Listeners learn about innovative techniques like rewiring T cells to target tumors and using CRISPR for precise interventions. Greenberg highlights the importance of mentorship in science and advocates for better communication of research to the public. His vision for the future underscores a transformative potential for cancer treatment.
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Bone Marrow Transplants Sparked A New Direction
- Dr. Phil Greenberg described how bone marrow transplant success revealed immune cells drove anticancer effects.
- That realization committed him to making T cells specifically target cancer rather than relying on nonspecific graft-versus effects.
Rewiring Cytokine Signals Inside T Cells
- Greenberg explained early synthetic biology rewired T cells to use their own cytokine signals.
- He converted a secreted molecule into one the cell could bind to deliver an IL-2 signal internally.
Turning Tumor Suppression Into Activation
- Rather than only block inhibitory signals in tumors, Greenberg's team rewires them into activation cues.
- Turning negative tumor signals into positive signals improves T-cell activation in hostile microenvironments.