Cancer Vaccine Research with Williams College Professor

Taught By

Dr. Damian Turner

Dr. Damian Turner, an immunologist with a PhD from University of Connecticut Health, served as a Biology Professor at Williams College (#1 liberal arts college in the U.S.) for nine years. There, he taught courses like Introductory Biology and Translational Immunology and led research on respiratory diseases. His work, including a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center focusing on asthma and vaccine development, has resulted in 13 publications. Dr. Turner's research has earned him prestigious awards, highlighting his dedication to advancing immunology and educating future scientists.

Week by Week Curriculum

Week 1: Foundations of Immunology and Cancer Biology

Components of the immune system: T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells
How CD8 T cells recognize non-self and destroy targets
How normal cells become cancerous: mutations, oncogenes, and tumor suppressors
Cancer hallmarks: uncontrolled growth, metastasis, and immune evasion

Week 2: Cancer Vaccines: Traditional to Personalized

History of cancer vaccines: HPV, hepatitis B, and early therapeutic attempts
Why personalization matters: individual genetic differences and unique mutations
Different platforms: mRNA, peptides, DNA, and viral vectors

Week 3: Genomic Analysis and Vaccine Design

Next-generation sequencing: how we read DNA from tumors
Comparing tumor vs. normal DNA to identify cancer-specific mutations
Computational algorithms for predicting which mutations make good vaccine targets
Discussion of research article assignment

Week 4: Manufacturing and Clinical Translation

From computer prediction to physical vaccine: the manufacturing process
Understanding clinical trial phases and how new treatments are tested
Current personalized vaccine trials and their preliminary results

Week 5: Enhancing Vaccine Efficacy

Checkpoint inhibitors: how PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors work
Why combining vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors enhances effectiveness
Overview of T cell mediated autoimmunity and adverse reactions

Week 6: Future Directions and Ethical Considerations

Challenges: cost, accessibility, and manufacturing time
Ethical questions in personalized medicine: equity, data privacy, and global access
Career pathways in cancer immunotherapy and vaccine development