From Bench to Fireside

In this episode, physician-scientist Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD, a PICI Network Investigator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, provides an inside look at his groundbreaking research on optimizing T-cell activation for cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Klebanoff discusses his work on targeting mutated driver oncogenes, expanding cell therapies beyond blood cancers, and using CD4+ T cells to improve cancer outcomes. Tracing the evolution of the field from pioneers like Dr. William Coley to current leaders such as Nobel laureate Jim Allison, PhD, Center Director for the PICI Center at MD Anderson, Dr. Klebanoff explains why multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to driving progress in cancer immunotherapy.  Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Dr. Klebanoff. ++ From Bench to Fireside™ is a new podcast from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) that takes you from behind the lab bench to the frontiers of cancer research. Each episode features an interview with members of the PICI Network, pioneers in cancer immunotherapy and leaders at world-renowned cancer research institutions. Throughout the conversations, these experts weigh in on the potential of the human immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, from the latest breakthroughs in immuno-oncology to their impact on patients. Along the way, they unpack the hurdles encountered and the opportunities that lie ahead. Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases. From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit https://www.parkerici.org/.

In this episode, pioneering researcher Crystal Mackall, MD, Center Director for the PICI Center at Stanford Medicine, talks through what led to her contributions to cancer immunotherapy, including her point of view on tackling challenging problems like pediatric cancers. Dr. Mackall has dedicated her career to harnessing the immune system to treat cancer and was among a notable handful that helped conduct some of the first cancer immunotherapy clinical trials in the early 90s. She and PICI CSO John Connolly, PhD, explore what engineered “serial killer” T cells have to do with future treatments, the challenges of toxicity and partnering with the FDA to gain confidence in academia, all while getting into the crucial role that mentorship plays in fostering the next generation of scientific innovators. Get ready to go from bench to fireside with an eye-opening look at the past, present and future of cancer immunotherapy, as informed by Dr. Mackall’s cutting-edge scientific experiences.  ++ From Bench to Fireside™ is a new podcast from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) that takes you from behind the lab bench to the frontiers of cancer research. Each episode features an interview with members of the PICI Network, pioneers in cancer immunotherapy and leaders at world-renowned cancer research institutions. Throughout the conversations, these experts weigh in on the potential of the human immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, from the latest breakthroughs in immuno-oncology to their impact on patients. Along the way, they unpack the hurdles encountered and the opportunities that lie ahead. Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases. From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.

This episode of “From Bench to Fireside” is a special one for PICI that marks a network expansion with Weill Cornell Medicine joining as our newest PICI Center. The partnership will build upon PICI’s work to accelerate research efforts in cancer immunotherapy and represents an expansion for PICI on the East Coast. Dr. Jedd D. Wolchok, the Meyer Director of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and newly appointed Center Director for the PICI Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, talks with PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD, to discuss the new cancer immuno-oncology research center in NYC.  Dr. Wolchok, who previously served as PICI Center Director at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), shares his vision for the PICI Center at Weill Cornell, ideas for integrating clinical research and cancer care to improve access for diverse populations, ambitions to accelerate cancer immunotherapy research, and a two-decade exploration of the immune system’s interaction with cancer. He also dives into challenges targeting checkpoint inhibitors, advancements in manufacturing cell therapies, personalized cancer vaccines, and the potential of engineered cytokines in next-gen immunotherapies. Get ready to go from bench to fireside with Dr. Jedd Wolchok as he shares his bold vision for the future of the field. ++ From Bench to Fireside™ is a new podcast from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) that takes you from behind the lab bench to the frontiers of cancer research. Each episode features an interview with members of the PICI Network, pioneers in cancer immunotherapy and leaders at world-renowned cancer research institutions. Throughout the conversations, these experts weigh in on the potential of the human immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, from the latest breakthroughs in immuno-oncology to their impact on patients. Along the way, they unpack the hurdles encountered and the opportunities that lie ahead. Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases. From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.

For more than three decades, Dr. Lewis Lanier has researched natural killer (NK) cells and their innate and adaptive responses to pathogens and cancer. The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy’s Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, PhD, kicks off the first season of From Bench to Fireside™ in conversation with Distinguished Professor Emeritus at University of California, San Francisco and former Center Director for the PICI Center at UCSF. Together, they share insights on the progress of NK cell biology, reflect on Dr. Lanier’s role in helping to shape PICI's mission, and the impact of cultivating collaborations in both academia and industry. ++ From Bench to Fireside™ is a new podcast from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) that takes you from behind the lab bench to the frontiers of cancer research. Each episode features an interview with members of the PICI Network, pioneers in cancer immunotherapy and leaders at world-renowned cancer research institutions. Throughout the conversations, these experts weigh in on the potential of the human immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, from the latest breakthroughs in immuno-oncology to their impact on patients. Along the way, they unpack the hurdles encountered and the opportunities that lie ahead. Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal of turning all cancers into curable diseases. From Bench to Fireside™  is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow PICI on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.

Introducing From Bench to Fireside™, a new podcast from the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) that takes you from behind the lab bench to the frontiers of cancer research. Hosted by PICI Chief Scientific Officer John Connolly, each episode features an interview with members of the PICI Network, pioneers in cancer immunotherapy and leaders at world-renowned cancer research institutions. Throughout the conversations, these experts weigh in on the potential of the human immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells, from the latest breakthroughs in immuno-oncology to their impact on patients. Along the way, they unpack the hurdles encountered and opportunities ahead. Tune in to hear from scientific leaders who stand at the forefront of developing breakthrough immune therapies with the goal to turn all cancers into curable diseases.  From Bench to Fireside™ is produced by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Follow us on LinkedIn, X @parkerici or visit www.parkerici.org.