Yale Cancer Center member Sidi Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor of Genetics at Yale School of Medicine, and a member of the Yale West Campus Systems Biology Institute, was awarded a $500,000 research grant from Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) to advance Multiplexed Activation of Endogenous Genes as an Immunotherapy or MAEGI technology.
“Cell and gene therapies that leverage the natural power of the immune system are extending lives and improving quality of lives,” said Chen. “A number of approaches are being tested and employed today. All of them offer promise in the fight against solid tumors, but none are perfect.”
“The ACGT Scientific Advisory Council finds Dr. Chen’s MAEGI technology to be unique and exciting because it simultaneously targets multiple differences and activates multiple immune system responses,” said Kevin Honeycutt, CEO and president of ACGT. “It has proven to be very effective in animal models. We believe our support will enable its advancement into the clinic where it would have major, life-saving impact on pancreatic and other difficult-to-treat cancers, such as melanoma, glioblastoma and triple negative breast cancer.”