The AACR-Genmab Non-Hodgkin B-cell Lymphoma Research Fellowship represents a joint effort to encourage and support postdoctoral or clinical research fellows to conduct non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma research and to establish a successful career path in this field.

Research

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy targeting CD19 (CAR19) is an effective treatment for patients with relapsed and refractory B cell lymphoma. However, more than half of patients relapse or fail to respond. The Maus lab developed a novel CD37 targeting CAR T cell therapy (CAR37) to treat relapsing patients and CD19 negative lymphomas. However, two patients treated with CAR37 developed significant cytopenia and underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The exact mechanism of severe persistent cytopenia, which can also develop after other CAR therapies, including CAR19 and CAR-BCMA, is poorly understood. This project will assess for an immune signature implicated in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated cytopenia utilizing bio-banked samples from patients who received CAR19. Humanized mouse models will also be established to investigate which hematopoietic/immune cell lineages are targeted by CAR37 and CAR19 to distinguish on-target toxicities of specific CARs vs target-independent hematopoietic toxicities.

Biography

Dr Graham completed her medical degree at the University of Warwick, her medical internship at Oxford University Hospitals, and her specialist Hematology training at King’s College Hospital, London. She undertook her PhD in Dr Reuben Benjamin’s group, King’s College London, investigating the use of gene edited allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in B cell malignancies. She joined the Maus and immune monitoring laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center as a postdoctoral research fellow to conduct translational research in the field of CAR T cell therapy.

Acknowledgement of Support

I am delighted to receive the 2022 AACR-Genmab Non-Hodgkin B-Cell Lymphoma Research Fellowship.  This funding and mentorship will allow me to investigate cytopenia following CAR T cell therapy, an important complication for patients. It represents a key milestone in my career development, and I am incredibly grateful for this award.