Hind Rafei
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center at Houston
Department of Stem Cell Transplant & Cellular Therapy
I am a physician-scientist at the rank of Assistant Professor in the department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center. My laboratory research focuses on modulating immunometabolism to enhance cancer cellular therapies with a special focus on natural killer (NK) cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cells. To this end, I have focused my endeavors on studying determinants of metabolic immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment and developing innovative strategies to modulate the metabolism of NK cells using state of the art genetic engineering technologies to enhance their potency for anticancer therapy. Specifically, my research has been focused on the immunosuppressive role of acidity in the tumor microenvironment on NK cells and the pathways by which it regulates NK cell function and devising strategies to target these pathways. My goal is to bring CAR-based therapies for solid tumors from the research lab to the clinic. My work encompasses cancer biology, immunology and tumor immunotherapy while leveraging novel technologies including flow cytometry, mass cytometry, CRISPR gene-editing, and the use of xenogenic mouse models of human cancers. I am passionate about my research and strive to continue to contribute to the field of cellular therapy to improve the outcomes of cancer patients through cutting-edge translational research.
Education & Training
MD - American University of Beirut - 2014
MS - The University of Texas MD Anderson Center -UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences - 2021