Dr. Loo is engineering T cells that can sense chemical signals in the tumor microenvironment through G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), one of the body’s most important signaling systems. Tumors often use these signals to suppress immune responses or prevent T cells from entering the tumor. His approach is to redesign therapeutic T cells so these same signals instead trigger activation, trafficking, and tumor killing. This could create smarter cell therapies that use the tumor’s own biology against itself.
Dr. Loo has built a career at the intersection of molecular biology and immunology, with training in both Asia (National Taiwan University) and the United States (Salk Institute). He now works at Harvard Medical School in the lab of Dr. Jun Huh.
Mentor
Jun Huh, PhD
Projects and Grants
Reprogrammed T cells for sensing GPCR-ligand engagement and enhancing anti-tumor immunity
