Arabella Young

Arabella Young is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Microbiology and Immunology within the Department of Pathology at University of Utah Health. She leads the Young Lab, affiliated with the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Utah Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center, Melanoma Center, Cell Response and Regulation Program, and Molecular Biology Program. Her research focuses on immune checkpoint inhibitors, autoimmunity, tumor microenvironment, and cancer immunotherapy.

• Education: BBiotech (Hons I) from University of Tasmania, PhD from The University of Queensland, Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of California San Francisco

Her research integrates immunology and oncology to address challenges in checkpoint inhibitor-induced autoimmune toxicities and tumor resistance mechanisms. She develops preclinical models to study immune regulation in cancer and autoimmunity, with an NIH-NCI funded program. Key publications explore immune-related adverse events, adenosine signaling, and regulatory T cell dynamics in liver metastasis.

Recent trends in her publications include

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma and pan-tumor cohorts
• Biomarker discovery for autoimmune toxicities
• Epigenetic regulation in cancer
• Metabolomics of immune-related adverse events
• Adenosine-targeted immunotherapy
• Preclinical modeling of immune-mediated diseases

Scientific Awards

• 5 For the Fight Fellow (2021)

Dr. Young's lab trains graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduates, with members including Camille Hansen, Sammy Stone, Paul Wynn, Bar Devald, Nehemiah Spinks, and Luke Boland. The lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, mentoring, and collaboration with programs like Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular Biology, and MD-PhD.

Lab activities include participation in conferences (e.g., SITC, American Diabetes Association), retreats, and community-building events like pumpkin carving and bowling. The lab collaborates with the Tan Lab and others on data science and immunotherapy research.