University of Chicago · Biomedical EngineeringBifidobacteria Cancer Therapy Lab
Ralph R Weichselbaum · Chicago, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Ralph Weichselbaum's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on innovative cancer therapies using genetically-engineered bacteria. They specifically study how Bifidobacteria can be used to enhance treatment for challenging cancers like pancreatic cancer by improving the immune response and working synergistically with traditional therapies like radiation. The lab is pioneering in engineering these bacteria to precisely deliver therapeutic agents to tumors, potentially changing how we treat hard-to-reach cancers.
Bifidobacteriumpancreatic cancerimmunotherapyradiotherapytumor microenvironment
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the use of genetically-engineered Bifidobacterium for targeted tumor therapy.
AIM 02Enhance T-cell activation in tumor environments using engineered bacteria.
AIM 03Develop precise gene circuits for controlled protein delivery in cancer therapy.
AIM 04Study the effects of Bifidobacterium combined with immunotherapy and radiotherapy on tumor growth.
AIM 05Explore the tumor-specific targeting abilities of engineered Bifidobacterium.
Skills the Lab Values
genetic engineeringbacteria culturetumor modelingIV administrationflow cytometry
Output against the department
Publications1,266top 3% of dept.19th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations67ktop 2% of dept.10th of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.