DrSam Sheppard, PhD

Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that can secrete inflammatory cytokines and kill infected or cancerous cells. NK cells are vital for optimal immunosurveillance of cancer cells, and initial results from NK cell-based therapeutic trials against leukaemia are promising. However, solid tumours are proving harder to target with NK cell-based therapies. Solid tumours are thought to create nutrient-limited environments that alter immune cell functionality. Using super-resolution microscopy and metabolomics, I study novel mechanisms by which NK cell functionality is influenced by their environment. This work aims to discover ways that NK cell function may be enhanced therapeutically against cancer and other NK cell-sensitive diseases.