Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized treatment for some blood cancers, but current approaches remain extremely complex, expensive, and difficult to apply to solid tumors. Currently, CAR T-cell therapy requires removing immune cells from a patient, engineering them in a laboratory, and then reinfusing them back into the body — a time-consuming and costly process that limits access for many patients.
Dr. Eyquem’s research aims to fundamentally transform how engineered T-cell therapies are delivered. His team has developed the first method capable of generating CAR T cells directly inside the body, potentially eliminating the need for individualized cell manufacturing.
The project will build on this breakthrough by optimizing the in vivo engineering system for both CAR and T cell receptor (TCR) therapies while improving efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness against solid tumors, where current treatments often fail. Additionally, the work aims to redesign how engineered T cells process signals so they can remain active longer within the hostile tumor environment.
The project will generate large datasets linking T cell design to therapeutic performance, used to train AI systems capable of designing even more effective future therapies. This work has the potential to dramatically expand access to T cell immunotherapy, reduce costs, and accelerate the development of safer and more powerful immune-based cancer treatments.
Research Focus
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST), Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Uterine Sarcoma
Projects and Grants
In vivo engineering and programmable signaling to enhance T cell-based cancer therapy
