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After completing her M.D, Ph.D., and clinical training as a Hematologist at the University of Athens in Greece, she was fortunate to undertake postdoctoral training in a laboratory renowned for its groundbreaking research that revolutionized Immunology with the discovery of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules. Her initial postdoctoral project uncovered additional B7 molecules and led to the cloning of the second member of the B7 family, B7-2 (CD86). Following this, her group identified ICOS ligand, PD-L1, and PD-L2 as members of the B7 superfamily, and she played an active role in their functional characterization.
For several years, her laboratory has focused on investigating the mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in T cell activation and inhibition. Understanding these pathways is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies in cancer, as targeted interventions can modulate immune responses to either enhance anti-tumor immunity or suppress graft-versus-host disease. Her lab was among the pioneers in demonstrating that the induction of T cell anergy in vitro and tolerance in vivo results from active signaling processes. These early findings were corroborated by the discovery of checkpoint receptors, with the PD-1/2 pathway being central to the induction and maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Modulation of this pathway has led to some of the most significant anti-tumor responses in the history of tumor immunotherapy. Her laboratory played a key role in identifying PD-L1 and PD-L2 as ligands for PD-1 and in the original discovery that PD-1 ligands are expressed in cancer cells and mediate immune response inhibition. Currently, the lab is exploring the mechanisms of signaling mediated by PD-1 and other checkpoint inhibitors, as well as their impact on the differentiation of innate and adaptive immune cells. A major focus of their research involves understanding how metabolic reprogramming influences the functional outcomes of these cells towards either productive immunity or tolerance within the tumor microenvironment and the role of checkpoint receptors in regulating energy generation and metabolic programs of hematopoietic cells in cancer contexts.
Her group is part of the Cancer Immunology Program at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC). As a physician-scientist, her ultimate goal is to translate the findings from basic immunology research into innovative strategies for inducing anti-tumor immunity and improving immune reconstitution following cancer therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In this pursuit, she is dedicated to integrating patient care, research, and teaching, with a focus on training and mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists.
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to do the following
Dr. Boussiotis has indicated that she has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.
Dr. Lekakis has indicated that he has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.
Faculty, Primary Care Physicians, APRNs, PharmD
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
This article was printed from The Miller School of Medicine Medical News
at the following URL: https://events.med.miami.edu/event/the-bone-marrow-as-a-hub-of-hematopoiesis-dr-vassiliki-a-boussiotis/
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