B cells and the antibodies they produce are increasingly recognized as important players in cancer immunity. In several cancers, patients whose tumors contain high numbers of B cells respond better to immunotherapy and have improved survival. However, scientists still do not know exactly what these B cell responses are recognizing or whether consistent immune “fingerprints” exist across patients. 

Dr. Glaros has spent his career studying how B cells develop, diversify, and form long-lasting immune memory. His earlier research challenged long-standing assumptions about how memory B cells arise and established him as a leading young investigator in fundamental B cell biology. 

One of the biggest challenges in studying B cells is their enormous diversity: every person’s B cells are slightly different, making it difficult to identify meaningful patterns. To overcome this obstacle, Dr. Glaros will use a novel experimental system in which B cell diversity is intentionally simplified and more reproducible. Using this approach, he will compare immune responses across different tumor settings to determine whether cancers produce recognizable B cell signatures. The goal is to identify immune fingerprints that could improve cancer monitoring, help classify disease more accurately, and deepen understanding of how the immune system responds to tumors. 

Dr. Glaros’ research could ultimately lead to new ways of predicting disease progression and tailoring immunotherapy based on a patient’s unique immune response. 

Mentor

Gabriel Victora, PhD

Projects and Grants

Towards identification of cancer-specific fingerprints in B cell repertoires