Carl DeSelm

Carl DeSelm, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine, with a laboratory in the Bursky Center for Human Immunology & Immunotherapy Programs (CHiiPs). He holds appointments in the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences across multiple programs including Cancer Biology, Immunology, and Molecular Cell Biology. As a member of the Siteman Cancer Center, Dr. DeSelm bridges clinical radiation oncology practice with cutting-edge immunotherapy research.

Dr. DeSelm's educational background includes:

• BA in Genetics, Cell, and Developmental Biology from Dartmouth College (2004)
• MD and PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology (with focus on Osteoimmunology) from Washington University School of Medicine (2012)
• Internal Medicine Internship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (2013)
• Radiation Oncology Residency at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2017)
• Holman Research Fellowship and Translational Research Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2016-2018)

His research focuses on the intersection of radiation therapy and cellular immunotherapy, particularly CAR T-cell and CAR macrophage therapies. Dr. DeSelm's laboratory investigates how to overcome antigen escape in CAR therapy, improve CAR T-cell penetration into solid tumors, and understand how radiation therapy modulates the immune response to enhance cellular therapies. His early work in osteoclast biology laid the foundation for his current interest in immunotherapy, having characterized the role of IL-17 in osteoporosis pathogenesis and discovered a secretory pathway in bone-resorbing osteoclasts that utilizes autophagy pathway proteins.

Analysis of Dr. DeSelm's recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward combining radiation with novel cellular immunotherapies, particularly for solid tumors. His work spans from basic mechanisms of tumor resistance to CAR T cells, through preclinical models of CAR macrophages for neurodegenerative diseases, to clinical implementation of advanced radiation techniques. The research demonstrates increasing integration of radiation oncology with cutting-edge immunotherapeutic approaches, with particular emphasis on pancreatic cancer, lymphoma, and breast cancer applications.

Dr. DeSelm's scientific recognition includes:

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (2009)
• Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (2009)
• Merit Award from the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences at Washington University (2011)
• Needleman Pharmacology Award from the Department of Developmental Biology (2012)
• Holman Research Pathway (2017)
• Agilent Early Career Professor Award (2020)

As a clinician-scientist, Dr. DeSelm focuses on treating lymphoma and developing novel CAR T-cell approaches for solid tumors including pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma. His laboratory actively investigates how radiation can be strategically combined with cellular immunotherapies to overcome limitations in current cancer treatments. Dr. DeSelm is available to mentor PhD and MSTP students through the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences.

The DeSelm Lab operates at the intersection of radiation oncology and immunotherapy, investigating novel CAR myeloid and CAR T-cell therapies. The lab's research focuses on identifying ways to overcome antigen escape in heterogeneous tumors, improving CAR T-cell penetration into solid tumors, and understanding the mechanisms by which radiation therapy can synergize with cellular immunotherapies to enhance cancer treatment efficacy.