Year 5

We have continued to make progress to reach the proposed goals of this grant:

We have further characterized immune cells that naturally express three transcription factors that transform normal cells into pluripotent stem cells. We are interested in determining if these immune cells with pluripotency transcription factors are long term memory cells able to maintain immune responses.

In parallel, we have continued to advance our studies to bring a new approach to the clinic based on the genetic modification of blood stem cells to regenerate a cancer-fighting immune system. In the past year we have discussed our plans with the Food and Drug Administration and we have proceeded to follow their recommendations on what needs to be provided to open such a clinical trial. This clinical trial will be further developed within a newly approved CIRM disease team grant.