Biosketch
I received my undergraduate degree in Medical Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. During my PhD at the University of Bonn, Germany, I studied mechanisms controlling T cell tolerance induced within the liver. I continued to work on liver-immunology during my postdoc at UCL, UK, investigating HBV-specific T cell responses. In 2017 I started my own research group at King’s College London. We investigate mechanisms of metabolic regulation of human T cell function, with a focus on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapies.
Research profile
T cells are vital in combatting infection and eliminating transformed or malignant cells. In the Schurich lab, we study mechanisms that regulate function and differentiation of human T cells. Our specific focus is the investigation of T cell metabolic regulation, to understand better how T cells fuel their extraordinary effector capacity. Metabolic reprogramming is a critical step in enabling T cell immune responses. Hence the availability and capacity to utilize required nutrients can support or curtail T cell function.
Main research questions:
- How does nutrient availability in human disease impact T cell function?
- How do patient and healthy donor derived T cells differ in metabolic profile and function?
- Can we improve CAR-T cell therapy by modulating cellular metabolic programming?
This has major implications for clinical success of immunotherapies, especially in adoptive T cell therapy such as using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. CAR-T cells have proved hugely successful in the treatment of several lymphomas, but success in treatment of solid tumours, is lagging behind.
We have shown that therapeutic T cells with superior function benefit from improved metabolic fitness. Building on this, we study fundamental metabolism and nutrient requirements, including those for transition metals, in human healthy donor and patient-derived T cells. To support translational application of our findings we work together with our clinical collaborators at King’s College Hospital and Guy’s Hospital where we are located.
Positions and training
2017 – Present: Principal Investigator Schurich group – Experimental Immunology. School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences. King’s College London.
2009 – 2017: Postdoctoral Associate, Division of Infection and Immunity. University College London.
Contributions
- Treasurer British Society for Immunology (BSI) Immunometabolism Affinity Group
- Co-Lead iMet Immunometabolism Research Interest Group, KCL