Ami Patel, PhD

Research Project:
How Do CAR-T Cell Therapies Predispose Body to Influenza-Associated Lung Disease?

Grant Awarded:

Emerging Respiratory Pathogen Award

Research Topics:

gene therapy
immunology immunotherapy
pathology

Research Diseases:

influenza
respiratory viruses

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) therapies are breakthrough medicines for cancers that are not responsive to treatment and relapse. Despite their success, infectious lung diseases cause 50% of non-cancer relapse-related deaths. In part, this is because current CAR-T therapies cannot distinguish between cancer cells and healthy cells. This leads to destruction of immune cells that normally respond to infections. These lifesaving medicines can traffic to the lungs, leading to unintended damage that could worsen infectious lung disease. As these cell therapies advance against small and non-small cell lung cancers, it is important to understand how CAR-T delivery impacts the body’s response to influenza virus infection and infection prevention strategies. We will focus on understanding how CAR-T cell therapies predispose the body to influenza-associated lung disease. We will use mouse models and monoclonal antibody strategies to deliver long-term protective immunity.

Supported by the Mary Fuller Russell Fund

Page last updated: October 29, 2025

Ami Patel, PhD

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