Jeffrey Rathmell

Jeffrey Rathmell, Ph.D., is the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Immunobiology and Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. His work focuses on immunometabolism, cancer immunotherapy, and the metabolic regulation of immune cell function. He leads a research program investigating how metabolic pathways influence T cell behavior in cancer, sepsis, and autoimmune diseases. Key areas of interest include tumor microenvironment dynamics, immunotherapy resistance mechanisms, and the obesity-cancer connection.

Education details are not explicitly listed in the provided text, but his role as a professor and researcher at Vanderbilt indicates advanced training in immunology and biochemistry. His lab has pioneered studies on how cellular metabolism shapes immune responses, particularly in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Research interests emphasize metabolic rewiring in T cells during critical illness, the role of metabolic checkpoints in cancer, and the development of therapies targeting immunometabolic pathways. Recent work highlights STING agonist delivery strategies, kynurenine-driven immunosuppression, and PD-1 regulation in tumor-associated macrophages.

Publications span 2022–2025, with a focus on immunometabolic mechanisms in cancer, sepsis, and autoimmune conditions. Key themes include tumor escape mechanisms, metabolic dependencies of immune cells, and drug development targeting metabolic vulnerabilities.

• Labs/Teams: Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology
• Grants/Support: Not explicitly listed but inferred through publication topics