Ellen Beswick

Ellen Beswick, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah. She is a member of the Markey Cancer Center and the Translational Oncology Research Program, with expertise in immunology, oncology, and fibrosis-related diseases.

• Education: Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Texas Medical (2007); Ph.D., Southern Illinois University (2002); B.S., Florida Southern College (1996)

Her research focuses on the intersection of inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer immunotherapy. Key areas include:

• Role of T cells and cytokines in gastrointestinal cancers
• Mechanisms of fibrosis in Crohn's disease and liver conditions
• Targeting MK2 and MAPKAPK2 pathways for anti-inflammatory therapies
• Epigenetic regulation in tumor microenvironment and fibrotic diseases

Recent publications highlight her work on CD8+ T cell responses in immunotherapy, RNA-binding proteins in breast cancer suppression, and fibrosis-targeting strategies across multiple disease models.

Current funded projects include:

• MAIT Cells as Therapeutic Approach for Gastrointestinal Cancers (University of Utah, 2024–2026)
• MK2 Targeting for Crohn's Disease (Department of Defense, 2023–2026)
• Lung Fibrosis Epigenetic Therapy (NHLBI, 2024–2025)