Dr. Stephen Gottschalk, director of the Basic & Translational Research Division of Texas Children’s Cancer Center, has been inducted as a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation. The ASCI is an honor society of physician-scientists, those who translate findings in the laboratory to the advancement of clinical practice. Founded in 1908, the Society is home to more than 3,000 members who are in the upper ranks of academic medicine and industry.
“This recognition is a great honor and reflects the very high caliber of research done here at Texas Children’s Hospital,” Gottschalk said. “I was very humbled to learn of my induction and I’m proud of my team for continuing to make great strides in pediatric cancer research.”
Gottschalk’s research laboratory concentrates on cancer immunotherapy with antigen-specific T cells. This therapeutic approach has the major advantage of offering specific killing of malignant cells with minimal side effects. The research is focused on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T cells for the treatment of EBV-associated malignancies, and the use of genetically modified T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Researchers are currently conducting Phase I/II clinical studies using EBV-specific T cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and investigating genetic strategies on how to improve T-cell therapy for cancer.
Gottschalk with participate in a special induction ceremony in April at the ASCI/Association of American Physicians joint meeting in Chicago.
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