Dr. Ansell is a Consultant, Professor of Medicine, and Clinician-Investigator in the Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Ansell’s research activities focus on understanding the biology of B-cell malignancies, including both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. His research activities have had a significant impact on patient care, contributing to the development of immune checkpoint therapies in lymphomas.
Dr. Ansell is also co-leader of the Hematological Malignancies Program at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, and his extensive research has contributed a multitude of publications within the field. In particular, he is focused on understanding T-cell activation and exhaustion, the function of phagocytic cells in the context of tumors, and the role of cytokines and immunologically active signals in the promotion or suppression of tumor growth and immunoglobulin production. Aside from his clinical and research responsibilities, Dr. Ansell holds positions on various scientific advisory boards and committees, such as the International Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Lymphoma Research Foundation. He is on the editorial board of both the American Journal of Hematology and Blood Cancer Journal. Dr. Ansell has received awards throughout his career for his research and clinical work, most recently receiving the Ernest Beutler Award from the American Society of Hematology, recognizing his achievements in clinical science and translational research.
Dr. Fehniger is a Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine who leads a basic, translational, and early phase clinical trial program focused on natural killer cell immunotherapy. He is the co-leader of the Siteman Cancer Center Lymphoma Program, Laboratory Director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy, and Director of the Biological Therapy Facility. As a physician-scientist, he has expertise in leukemia, lymphoma, cellular therapy, and hematopoietic cell transplantation. He has published more than 120 papers in these fields, has continuous NIH funding, and served as a Principal Investigator on a number of Phase 1 or 2 clinical trials of novel immunotherapy agents and cellular therapies over the past 14 years.
Dr. Fehniger’s research program focuses on understanding the fundamental biology of natural killer (NK) cell development and function, with the aim of developing and progressing novel immunotherapies and clinical trials to improve outcomes in patients with hematological and solid malignancies. This includes applying cutting-edge multidimensional approaches to advance our understanding of human immunology within patients. He is also interested in identifying somatic mutations that are associated with lymphoma pathogenesis and impact clinical outcomes, using this information to elucidate immune interactions and define neo-antigens, that may facilitate the development of novel immunotherapies augmenting the innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition to his research activities, Dr. Fehniger sits on the editorial boards of several journals, serves as the President of the Society for Natural Immunity, as well as holding several advisory positions at organizations developing NK cell-based immunotherapies.
Ulrike Köhl is a full Professor for Immune Oncology at the University of Leipzig, Germany and the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology since 2017 and holds the position of a full Professor and director of the Institute of Cellular Therapeutics at Hannover Medical School since 2012, respectively.
She holds a degree in in biology supplemented by a medicine study. She worked at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, USA and at the University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany. She is an international leading expert in the development and manufacturing of cell and gene therapies in cancer and regenerative medicine and collaborates with both international industry and academic partners. She has a specific own research focus on primary human NK cells as well as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing T and NK effector cells. The Köhl team has been responsible for one of the first NK cell trial in Europe. Currently, Prof. Köhl is heading “SaxoCell”, a cluster for cell and gene therapy, funded by the Germany federal government as a future and excellence initiative. In addition, she is leading two EU consortia (“Mature-NK” and the IMI “ImSAVAR”). Prof. Köhl is a member of numerous national and international societies and a committee member of scientific advisory boards of different companies.
Dr. Matosevic is an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy at Purdue University, and is a member of the Purdue Center for Cancer Research. Dr. Matosevic runs an NIH-funded research program focused on the development and use of natural killer cells in the treatment of cancer and holds a number of patents on the engineering and utilization of NK cells in cancer immunotherapy.
Dr. Matosevic is on the editorial board of several journals and has been on committees and advisory boards of several organizations advancing the development and standardization of cell-based therapies, including the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy. Prior to joining Purdue, Dr. Matosevic was senior Director of Research and Development at Akron Biotech. Dr. Matosevic obtained his graduate degree from University College London and completed his postdoctoral training at the Scripps Research Institute.