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\u207a T cells\u2014produced early in life\u2014stand 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. Jos\u00e9 Almeida-Santos is investigating how neonatal-like CD8\u207a T cells behave in tumors and whether their biology can be harnessed to prevent exhaustion and strengthen anti-cancer immunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Almeida-Santos will combine human tumor datasets with new mouse models to define the molecular and functional characteristics of neonatal CD8\u207a T cells within the tumor microenvironment. Using cross-species computational analysis, he will determine whether neonatal-like CD8\u207a 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u207a 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jared Rowe, MD, PhD, (Mentor); David Liu, MD (Co-Mentor)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Determining the role of latent neonatal T cells in immunity to cancer across the lifespan<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":36841,"template":"","tax_cancer_type":[455],"tax_grant_type":[486],"tax_award_year":[742],"tax_institutions":[495],"tax_location_states":[490],"class_list":["post-36886","cri_scientists","type-cri_scientists","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"scientist_subhead":"CRI Immuno-informatics Postdoctoral Fellow","quote":"","scientist_last_name":"Almeida Santos","show_on_landing":true,"scientist_publish_until":"20281213"},"yoast_head":"\nProjects and Grants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n