Steven Yang

Program: Immunology

Current advisor: Kory J. Lavine, MD, PhD

Undergraduate university: University of Pennsylvania, 2015

Enrollment year: 2021

Research summary
Investigating the immunomodulatory effects of fibroblast targeting T cell engaging therapies in the heart

Fibroblast activation protein has been shown to be elevated in fibroblasts in failing, but not control, hearts in both humans and mice. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells may be directed against fibroblast activation protein and it has been shown that these CAR T cells can prevent fibrosis and rescue systolic function. My project seeks to understand how T cell engaging thearpies modulate stromal cells in the heart after cardiac injury, and whether there are mechanisms of immunomodulation that can be modified to boost therapeutic efficacy and safety.

Graduate publications