Mentor Name: Jared Rowe

My project will explore how human neonatal-like T cells differ from adult T cells in their activation thresholds and tumor responses after TCR stimulation. Branching out from my previous study comparing neonatal and adult mouse T cells’ response to TCR stimulation across signaling strengths in a mouse neuroblastoma model, I will translate these core principles into a human T cell model. In this project, I will isolate human T cells from adult peripheral blood and neonatal-like umbilical cord blood and transduce both populations with a tumor-specific TCR able to recognize the pediatric tumor antigen, NY-ESO-1. I will utilize these engineered cells to then develop in vitro assays to determine TCR activation thresholds, along with their antitumor activity, including cytotoxicity against Ewing’s sarcoma. Through the direct comparison of the engineered adult human T cells, my project will allow us to determine whether neonatal-like T cells possess unique properties that can be used to design more effective immunotherapies for pediatric cancers.