James Allison
Professor & Chair
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Immunology
The general area of our research is the molecular immunology of the T cell antigen receptor complex, co-stimulatory receptors, and other molecules involved in T cell activation. We are particularly interested in defining those signaling events that lead to differentiation of naive T cells and those that determine whether antigen receptor engagement will lead to functional activation or inactivation of T cells. The lessons learned in these basic studies are used to develop new strategies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and for immunotherapy of cancer.
Projects/Techniques: Basic concepts of cancer immunology; Growth and characterization of tumor-reactive T-cells; Murine models of tumor immunotherapy; FACS analysis; ELISPOT and ELISA techniques
Education & Training
PhD, The University of Texas at Austin, 1973