Katy Rezvani

Katy Rezvani is a prominent figure in cancer research, currently serving as the Sally Cooper Murray Chair in Cancer Research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. She holds several key positions, including:

• Professor of Medicine
• Director of Translational Research
• Medical Director of the GMP and Cell Therapy Laboratory
• Chief of the Section of Cellular Therapy within the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.12

Education and Career Background

Dr. Rezvani earned her M.B.B.S. from University College London in 1990 and completed her Ph.D. at Imperial College London in 2005. Before joining MD Anderson in 2012, she was the Director of the allogeneic adult stem cell transplant program at Hammersmith Hospital in London, where she also led the GMP facility and the Transplant Immunology Research Laboratory.124

Research Focus

Her research primarily centers on transplantation immunology, particularly investigating the role of natural killer (NK) cells in combating leukemia. Dr. Rezvani's lab aims to enhance NK cell function through genetic engineering to improve their effectiveness against tumors. This work has led to several approved Phase I/II clinical studies focused on immunotherapy for leukemia and lymphoma patients.134

Contributions and Impact

Dr. Rezvani's extensive experience includes advanced techniques in flow cytometry, molecular biology, and animal models for NK cell therapy. Her contributions have significantly impacted the field of cancer immunotherapy, particularly regarding NK cell functionality and tumor resistance mechanisms.13