Barbara Savoldo

Barbara Savoldo, MD, PhD, is a Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, holding the Champion Mitchell Distinguished Professorship in Pediatric Oncology. She serves as Co-Director of the UNC Lineberger Immunotherapy Program and is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. With over two decades of experience in cancer immunology, Dr. Savoldo has established herself as a leading researcher in T-cell based therapies for hematological malignancies.

Dr. Savoldo's research focuses on cancer immunology and hematology, with particular expertise in T-cell therapy approaches for cancer treatment. Her work spans from basic science to clinical application, with emphasis on developing and refining chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for various malignancies. She has made significant contributions to the field of immunotherapy for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-associated diseases and hematological cancers, particularly Hodgkin's lymphoma. Her laboratory investigates strategies to enhance T-cell trafficking to tumors and overcome tumor-associated inhibitory mechanisms, with numerous publications in high-impact journals.

Dr. Savoldo's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on CAR T-cell therapy for CD30+ lymphomas, B7-H3 targeting in solid tumors, and innovative approaches to enhance T-cell function and persistence. Her work bridges laboratory research with clinical translation, as evidenced by her involvement in multiple clinical trials and her leadership in the UNC Lineberger Immunotherapy Program. She has developed expertise in good manufacturing practices (GMP) for T-cell processing, which she acquired during her 17 years at Baylor College of Medicine before joining UNC.

• Highly Cited Researchers (Top 1%), Web of Science, Clarivate Analytics (2021)
• Highly Cited Researchers (Top 1%), Web of Science, Clarivate Analytics (2022)
• Highly Cited Researchers (Top 1%), Web of Science, Clarivate Analytics (2023)

As Co-Director of the UNC Lineberger Immunotherapy Program, Dr. Savoldo provides critical support for writing protocols, developing standard operating procedures, and training T-cell processing staff. She has facilitated the development and implementation of several T-cell therapy clinical trials, leveraging her extensive experience to advance immunotherapy approaches for both hematological and solid tumors. Her laboratory continues to explore innovative strategies for redirecting T-cells to tumors through transgenic expression of TCRs and CARs, with a focus on improving efficacy and safety.