MD, PhD, University of Wuerzburg, Germany
Residency, University of Marburg Medical School, Marburg, Germany
Fellowship, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle

Monica Betancur, MSc.
Research Associate I
Monica Betancur

BS, Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
MS, Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia

Since I joined the lab I have been involved in isolating and culturing umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) from the Wharton?s jelly. I study the use of these UC-MSC for expanding human cells for immunotherapy and also bone marrow stem cells. In murine studies, I study if UC-MSC can accelerate engraftment of cord blood transplants. 

Laurent Boissel, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Laurent Boissel

Maitrise, Biology and Genetics, University Denis Diderot, Paris, France
PhD, Cellular and Molecular Biology of Development, University Denis Diderot,Paris, France

I am interested in making NK cells targeted to certain cancers by introducing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) into NK cells. One target antigen is CD19 that is highly expressed on lymphoid malignancies. We have shown that an anti-CD19CAR mRNA construct can successfully be transfected into the NK cell line NK-92, but transfection efficiency for blood NK cells is too low to be significant. I am currently working on a lentivirus-based construct to improve transfection efficiency.

  In a joint project with the vanEtten lab we using their murine model of CML to determine the contribution of allogeneic NK cells to CML control.

  I am also working on the genetic manipulation of UC-MSC to make them customized feeder layers for human cell expansion. So far we have shown that UC-MSC are excellent feeder layers for cord blood NK cell progenitors.

James Weitzman, MD
Hematology-Oncology Fellow
James Weitzman

BA, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
MD, SUNY-Downstate, Brooklyn, NY

My research focuses on optimizing therapy for patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) with special emphasis on NK cell mediated ADCC. Currently, initial treatment for this disease includes a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. With a focus on making monoclonal antibody treatment more effective, I have developed a model test system using high affinity Fc-receptor expressing NK cells and Fc-receptor negative NK cells to predict ADCC of different monoclonal antibodies in individual patients.