Andrew Y. Koh

Andrew Y. Koh is a Professor and Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where he also holds the Grant A. Dove Distinguished Chair for Research in Oncology. His work bridges pediatrics, microbiology, and oncology to investigate host-microbe interactions in disease pathogenesis and therapy.

His educational background includes:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Harvard College
• B.A. in English Literature from Pembroke College, Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar)
• MD from Harvard Medical School
• Internship, residency, and chief residency at Children’s Hospital, Boston
• Dual fellowship in hematology/oncology and infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital, Boston and Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Dr. Koh’s research centers on the gut microbiome’s role in modulating immune responses in cancer and stem cell transplant patients. His lab employs multiomic approaches—including metagenomic sequencing, metabolomics, and single-cell cytokine profiling—to dissect how intestinal bacteria and fungi influence infections, graft-versus-host disease, antibiotic resistance, and anti-tumor immunity. Key projects focus on identifying microbial effectors that drive disease phenotypes and developing microbiome-derived therapeutics to enhance cancer immunotherapy efficacy.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a dominant focus on microbiome-immunotherapy interactions, particularly how gut bacteria modulate immune checkpoint blockade responses in melanoma. His work also explores microbiome links to mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, and diagnostic applications for infections and graft-versus-host disease in transplant recipients.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Rhodes Scholarship

Dr. Koh has secured NIH and industry funding supporting two patents and the co-founding of Aumenta Biosciences. His lab actively develops novel diagnostics and therapeutics, including electrochemical sensors for antibiotic-resistant organisms and precision probiotics to boost cancer treatment efficacy. While specific advisees aren’t listed, his research program trains students in translational microbiome science.

The Koh Lab operates within UTSW’s Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, utilizing integrated approaches from molecular biology to human clinical studies. The team collaborates extensively across immunology, oncology, and infectious disease disciplines to advance understanding of host-microbe dynamics in health and disease.