Finn Wolfreys, D.Phil., Postdoctoral Fellow University of California, San Francisco

Geranylgeraniol-glutathione—otherwise known as GGG—is a molecule found in some tumors that can prevent the migration of certain immune cells. As a result, GGG production could be an important strategy used by cancer cells to exclude immune cells from solid tumors, a situation that is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, Dr. Finn Wolfreys aims to improve our understanding of this process, which could help us develop to new treatments to address it.

Specifically, Dr. Wolfreys is investigating the cells and enzymes responsible for both the production and degradation of GGG. Then, he’ll combine this information with synthetic chemistry approaches to understand the other interactions made by GGG as well as the distribution of receptors for GGG. In addition to informing basic science relevant to the treatment of solid tumors, his chemical approaches will provide the foundation for future drug discovery efforts targeting GGG receptors to improve immunotherapy.

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