February 15, 2023 — The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded two R01 grants to Kaylee Schwertfeger, PhD, a Cancer Bioengineering Initiative faculty member and professor with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.
Schwertfeger aims to define phenotypes and functions of macrophages, a key cell type within the tumor microenvironment that contributes to tumor progression. This could help scientists develop more effective therapies for solid tumors.
Research will focus on determining whether these tumor-associated macrophages are derived from resident macrophage pools and the mechanisms by which they drive tumor progression. In addition, emerging spatial technologies, such as those related to the Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments (C-MITIE), will be used to better define the impact of histologic localization to heterogeneity of macrophage phenotypes.
