University of Pennsylvania · BiologyCAR T Cell Enhancement Laboratory
Saba Ghassemi · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Saba Ghassemi's research focuses on improving CAR T cell therapies for cancer treatment. The lab is investigating ways to enhance the effectiveness of non-activated CAR T cells by targeting signaling pathways that affect their durability and function. By modulating specific pathways, the lab aims to develop strategies that reduce cancer immune evasion and improve the overall clinical outcomes for patients receiving these therapies.
CAR T cell therapynon-activated T cellsIFN1 signalingimmune evasiongene delivery
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the effects of IFN1 blockade on CAR T cell efficacy.
AIM 02Enhance transduction efficiency of non-activated CAR T cells.
AIM 03Explore the role of SAMHD1 in T cell functionality during manufacturing.
AIM 04Develop lentiviral vectors to co-express CAR and anti-IFN1 proteins.
AIM 05Evaluate the clinical relevance of enhanced CAR T cell therapies.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureCRISPRin vivo modelslentiviral vector transductionRNA extraction
Output against the department
Publications71bottom 20% of dept.825th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.6kbottom 42% of dept.604th of 1,033
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.