Most successful cancer treatments rely on the ability of T cells to recognize and destroy tumor cells, yet many T cells inside tumors become exhausted and lose their ability to function. Neonatal CD8⁺ T cells—produced early in life—stand out as a naturally resilient population that resists exhaustion, proliferates robustly, and produces a diverse set of inflammatory signals. These unique properties, observed in certain infant cancers that spontaneously regress, suggest untapped potential for improving adult cancer immunotherapy. Dr. José Almeida-Santos is investigating how neonatal-like CD8⁺ T cells behave in tumors and whether their biology can be harnessed to prevent exhaustion and strengthen anti-cancer immunity.
Dr. Almeida-Santos will combine human tumor datasets with new mouse models to define the molecular and functional characteristics of neonatal CD8⁺ T cells within the tumor microenvironment. Using cross-species computational analysis, he will determine whether neonatal-like CD8⁺ T cells exist in human cancers, how they differentiate, and which signals shape their activity. By mapping their cellular interactions and identifying pathways that sustain their resilience, Dr. Almeida-Santos aims to pinpoint molecular targets that could be modulated to preserve T cell vigor, enhance immune infiltration, and improve responsiveness to treatments such as immune checkpoint blockade. These discoveries may guide new therapeutic strategies rooted in the natural strengths of early-life immunity.
Dr. Almeida-Santos brings extensive experience in developmental immunology, T cell biology, and immunotherapy research, spanning gene editing in zebrafish, studies of T cell regulation in cancer, and immuno-informatics applied to human disease. His work integrates experimental models with computational approaches to uncover mechanisms that determine T cell effectiveness. By illuminating how neonatal CD8⁺ T cells resist exhaustion, his research seeks to provide a blueprint for next-generation immunotherapies that maintain T cell potency and deliver more durable cancer control.
Sponsor
Jared Rowe, MD, PhD, (Mentor); David Liu, MD (Co-Mentor)
Projects and Grants
Determining the role of latent neonatal T cells in immunity to cancer across the lifespan
