Evolution of a Stromal-Immune Axis in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy
Cancer associated fibroblasts are associated with reduced survival in multiple human cancers. TGFb signaling drives the evolution of a major CAF lineage associated with poor outcome in cancer immunotherapy. Therapeutic combination of TGFb inhibitors with checkpoint blockade agents leads to complete tumor regression by remodeling the stromal microenvironment, reprogramming the myeloid compartment and enabling tumor infiltration by cytotoxic CD8 T cells.
Dr. Shannon Turley received her PhD in Cell Biology from the Yale University School of Medicine in 1999. After teaching on the faculty in the Department of Biology at Bowdoin College for the 1999-2000 academic year Dr. Turley moved to Harvard Medical School where she carried out postdoctoral training in Immunology and Immunogenetics at Joslin Diabetes Center. Dr. Turley was recruited to the Department of Cancer Immunology and AIDS at Dana Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School as Assistant Professor in 2004 and promoted to Associate Professor in 2010. Focusing on immunology research at Harvard, Shannon established an international reputation as an expert in stromal immunobiology. During most of her tenure on the faculty, Dr. Turley served as the Associate Director of the PhD Program in Immunology. Throughout her career Dr. Turley has enjoyed teaching and mentoring trainees at the postdoctoral, graduate, undergraduate and high school levels.
In 2014, Dr. Turley was recruited to the Department of Cancer Immunology at Genentech as a Principal Scientist and Group Leader to build a tumor microenvironment/stromal immunobiology discovery research program with a focus on developing immunotherapeutics for treating patients with inflammatory diseases and advanced and metastatic cancers. In 2018 she was promoted to Staff Scientist at Genentech. Dr. Turley presently serves as a permanent member of the NIH Transplantation, Tolerance and Tumor Immunology Study Section and reviews grant applications for research foundations. She also serves on the editorial board for several journals including Journal of Experimental Medicine, Cancer Immunology Research and Scientific Reports. Dr. Turley has published over 115 peer-reviewed papers, invited reviews and book chapters and frequently lectures and presents her published research at conferences and universities around the world. She has been the recipient of a number of awards and honors. Dr. Turley was recently selected to receive the Frederick W. Alt Award for New Discoveries in Immunology from the Cancer Research Institute.
Now working in biotechnology with a focus on cancer immunotherapy, Dr. Turley applies principles established in rigorous basic science to making real-life medicines that positively impact cancer patient outcomes. She also continues her mentorship of trainees including postdoctoral fellows and students at the graduate and undergraduate levels.