Ahmad Yatim, MD, PhD

CRI-Carson Family Fellow

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) are among the most common cancers, with a 100-fold increased risk in immunosuppressed patients. Compromised immunity, sun exposure, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are the three pillars of cSCC development. By focusing on Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis (EV), a rare condition that weakens immunity against HPV and dramatically increases the risk of skin cancers, the project aims to uncover how specific genetic mutations impair the body’s defense against skin cancer.

Dr. Yatim will first use cutting-edge genomic technologies to discover new mutations causing EV. Then, using advanced microfluidic systems, he will build a vascularized artificial skin containing tumors (‘tumor-on-chip’) to closely recapitulate tumor-immune cell interactions in a small device. The artificial tissue will be perfused with patient-derived immune cells to study their behavior and understand how the mutations affect their ability to eliminate tumor cells. The work promises to shed light on how immune cells traffic in the skin and interact with the tumors. The success of this project could impact genetic counseling and the development of new therapies, offering hope to patients affected by EV.

Projects and Grants

Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis as a model to understand cancer immunosurveillance

The Rockefeller University | All Cancers | 2024 | Jean-Laurent, Casanova, MD, PhD

Dot decoration
The Rockefeller University
This grant will allow me to identify genetic mutations that weaken immunity against papillomaviruses, predisposing to skin cancers. The project could impact genetic counseling for these patients.

You Can Help

You can help us make immunotherapy a cancer treatment option for more patients. Together, we can shift the focus from fighting cancer to overcoming cancer.