The Klingemann lab is interested in translational research projects that will make stem cell transplants for bone marrow cancers safer and more universally available. The goal of the Stem Cell Transplant Research lab is to engineer a stem cell graft that provides healthy stem cells along with cytotoxic immune cells specifically recognizing leukemia/lymphoma.

Natural killer (NK) cells are genetically engineered to make them home to tumor sites and more selectively and specifically recognize leukemia and lymphoma cells. The goal is to further reduce the toxicities of chemotherapy and radiation and put immune cells to work. 

The Klingemann lab discovered the NK-92 cell line, that is used by research teams worldwide to study the biology of NK cells. First clinical trials in cancer patients have been completed with NK-92 cells.  Based on studies with NK-92, the lab is now developing NK cells from human cord blood to become targeted to leukemia and lymphoma cells by genetically modifying the cells. This is being accomplished by the introduction of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), now available against CD19 and CD20 as well as a high affinity Fc receptor. This allows to combine NK treatment with monoclonal antibodies that use ADCC as their primary mechanism of tumor kill.  In addition to making NK cells better recognize tumor cells, we also working on improving their homing to malignant cells and augment their cytotoxicity locally.

The laboratory was the first to discover that mesechymal stem cells from the Wharton’s Jelly of the umbilical cord (UC-MSC) can support faster engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells after cord blood transplants into immunocompromised mice. US-MSC are now being explored for expansion of NK cells for potential  applications in human trials.