James S. Economou

Dr. James S. Economou is a Professor in the Department of Surgery, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, and the Molecular, Immunologic, and Microbial Pathogenesis (MIMG) program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA School of Medicine). He holds the Louis D. Beaumont Chair in Surgery. His research focuses on cancer immunotherapy, particularly dendritic cell-based therapies and T-cell engineering for treating melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. He has served as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded grants, including projects exploring PET imaging of T-cell immunotherapy and genetic immunotherapy for melanoma. His work integrates clinical trials, molecular biology, and translational research to advance personalized cancer treatments.

Key research interests include adoptive cell transfer, immune checkpoint modulation, and overcoming tumor resistance mechanisms. Dr. Economou has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed publications, with a focus on immune response characterization, histone deacetylase inhibitors in immunotherapy, and the role of NK cells in tumor surveillance. He collaborates extensively with researchers like Antoni Ribas and John Glaspy, advancing multidisciplinary approaches to oncology. His academic leadership includes training programs in cancer gene medicine and clinical scientist training initiatives.

Notable achievements include pioneering dendritic cell vaccination protocols and developing strategies to enhance T-cell efficacy against metastatic cancers. His clinical trials have evaluated combinations of immunotherapy with targeted agents, emphasizing translational outcomes. Dr. Economou’s work addresses gender bias in biomedical research and advocates for rigorous surgical education and residency training standards.