Kole Roybal

Kole Roybal is a Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and principal investigator of the Roybal Lab. His research focuses on synthetic and chemical biology approaches to enhance immune cell therapies, particularly through engineered T cells and synthetic receptors.

Education:

• B.A. in Biology, Austin College (2005)
• Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology, UT Southwestern Medical Center (2013)

Roybal’s work explores the logic of cellular signaling, synthetic receptor design, and genetic programs to improve adoptive cell therapies. His research spans T cell engineering, CRISPR screening, and targeted degradation mechanisms.

His recent publications highlight advancements in CAR T-cell therapies, synthetic cytokine circuits, endocytosis-inducing proteins, and genetic programs governing immune cell function. These studies span journals like Nature, Science, and Cancer Immunology Research.

Scientific Awards:

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (2007)
• Eliot Golding Award for Thesis in Immunology (2011)
• Dean’s Award for Academic and Research Excellence (2012)
• Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator (2017)

Roybal’s lab collaborates on grants and projects related to synthetic biology, immune cell programming, and translational cancer therapies. He is associated with the UCSF Profiles platform, which highlights his contributions to immunology and cellular engineering.