James P. Allison, PhD, Chair of Immunology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, will share three decades of experience studying cancer immunotherapies at the Foundation’s 7th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound.
Dr. Allison has spent his career pioneering advances in new cancer immunotherapy strategies. In 2018, Dr. Allison – along with his colleague Tasuku Honjo, MD, PhD, of Kyoto University in Japan – received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing an immune checkpoint blockade.
His work now focuses on examining the mechanisms by which current immune checkpoints modulate the tumor immune response to provide the scientific basis for better combinatorial treatments.
“Jim’s work has and will continue to impact countless lives,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “The field of cancer immunotherapy has the potential to address many of the deadliest cancers, thanks in large part to his innovative work. A priority for the Foundation continues to be exploring the use of focused ultrasound in combination with immunotherapies, and it will be a major component of our 2020 meeting.”
Dr. Allison is also Regental Professor of Immunology and a Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) at MD Anderson. The Foundation works with PICI as well as the Cancer Research Institute to advance the field of focused ultrasound and cancer immunotherapy.
Dr. Allison received his undergraduate degree and PhD from the University of Texas at Austin.
The 7th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound will be held virtually November 9-13, 2020. The full program will be announced in the coming weeks.