Our bodies are engineered to have a sophisticated built-in system for protecting us from disease and fighting infection. Specialized immune cells, called T cells, have the ability to detect and destroy abnormal cells in the body thereby preventing illness. Therefore, by studying the abilities of T cells and enhancing their detection capabilities, researchers have the opportunity to develop treatments for many diseases, in particular cancer. Dr. Kai Wucherpfennig, of Harvard Medical School, studies how to use T cells to our advantage in order to develop novel approaches for immunotherapy of cancer. To accomplish this goal, he and his team use cutting-edge technologies for the discovery of genes that impair the function of T cells. Such an approach may one day offer therapies to cancer patients that are effective and don't have as many harmful side effects.

Dr. Wucherpfennig's innovative approach to medicine employs the natural defense system that our bodies are endowed with. Immune cells work collaboratively, can find diseased cells anywhere in the body, and can provide protection for long periods of time. Through the identification of key regulators of T cell function within tumors, Dr. Wucherpfennig's research gives hope to cancer researchers, patients, and their families. Dr. Wucherpfennig explains that developing therapies for cancer, "is an important medical problem and needs discovery." His research, if successful, will prove to offer a safe and effective treatment for patients with cancer that uses pre-existing tools the body already has. As one of the most important and challenging areas of biomedical research, the treatment of cancer is an important research question that Dr. Wucherpfennig remains at the forefront of this field!

Current research includes:

• Targeting Cancer: Dr. Wucherpfennig is working to identify the key targets for cancer within the living cell rather than in a petri dish. By studying T cells while in tissues, he and his team are able to see in a holistic way how T cells interact with the rest of the body to fight cancer.

• Delivering an Agent: Dr. Wucherpfennig is working to selectively deliver a therapeutic agent to T cells. In collaboration with bioengineers, he hopes to deliver particles that are loaded with drugs necessary to target particular genes.