8 mai 2025: Pr Rafi Ahmed
12H30
CMU - AUDITOIRE Müller (A250)
suivi d'un apéritif
Hôtes:
Dre Christiane EBERHARDT, Centre de vaccinologie, Faculté de médecine UNIGE & HUG
Dre Annapaola MARINIELLO, Département de pathologie et immunologie, Faculté de médecine UNIGE & Département d’oncologie, HUG
Pr Rafi Ahmed
Emory Vaccine Center & Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta
«What is T Cell Exhaustion ?»
Chronic antigen stimulation results in T cell dysfunction. This phenomenon, known as T cell exhaustion, is well documented in mouse models and also in humans during both chronic viral infections and cancer. In this lecture, Rafi Ahmed will review our current understanding of CD8 T cell exhaustion and show that this is a highly regulated and on-going T cell response under conditions of chronic antigen stimulation. The key cell maintaining this response is the PD-1+TCF-1+ TOX+ stem-like CD8 T cell. These specialized CD8 T cells not only function as chronic resource cells but also respond to PD-1 directed immunotherapy.
Biography
Professor Rafi Ahmed is Director of the Emory Vaccine Center at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar. His research efforts are directed towards: 1. Understanding the mechanisms of immunological memory and using this knowledge to develop new and more effective vaccines. 2. Defining the mechanisms of T cell exhaustion and developing effective immunotherapy for treatment of cancer and chronic viral infections. Dr. Ahmed is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Inventors, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
9 avr. 2025