Irene La-Beck

Irene La-Beck, PharmD is a Full Professor (Tenured) at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Pharmacy in Abilene, Texas. She holds a prominent position in the field of clinical pharmacology with specific expertise in cancer drug delivery systems and immunopharmacology.

Her educational background includes a PharmD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2008) and a BS from Daemen College (2002). Dr. La-Beck's career trajectory shows significant progression in academic pharmacy with numerous leadership roles and research accomplishments.

Dr. La-Beck's primary research interests focus on drug delivery, immunotherapy, and cancer chemotherapy, with particular emphasis on the interactions between nanomaterials and the immune system. Her laboratory investigates how engineered drug carriers impact antitumor immunity and tumor progression, with the long-term goal of developing nanomedicines that can exploit desired immune effects while mitigating undesired responses. This work has broad applications beyond cancer therapy given the immune system's role in many disease pathogenesis.

Her publication record demonstrates a strong focus on nanomedicine applications in oncology, with particular attention to liposomal drug carriers, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and the immunological implications of nanoparticle-based therapies. The research spans both preclinical and clinical investigations, showing translational impact.

• President's Early Career Investigator Award, TTUHSC (2017)
• New Investigator Award, American College of Clinical Pharmacy (2016)
• European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine Fellowship (2014)
• Focused Investigator Training Scholarship, American College of Clinical Pharmacy (2014)
• First place poster, TTUHSC SOP (2011)

Dr. La-Beck has been actively involved in teaching, serving as instructor for PHAR4218 Advanced Practice Management: Oncology courses. She has also contributed significantly to academic mentorship, serving as a Dissertation Committee Member since 2019 and supervising research since 2015. Her scholarly activities include numerous presentations at national and international conferences focusing on nanomedicine and cancer immunotherapy.