James S Economou

Dr. James S. Economou is a Professor of Surgery, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG), and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine. He holds the prestigious Louis D. Beaumont Chair in Surgery and has established himself as a leading researcher in cancer immunotherapy. His work spans surgical oncology, molecular pharmacology, and immunological approaches to cancer treatment.

Dr. Economou's research primarily focuses on developing novel immunotherapeutic approaches for cancer treatment, with particular emphasis on melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. His laboratory investigates dendritic cell-based vaccines, T-cell receptor engineering, and adoptive cell transfer therapies. He has made significant contributions to understanding how to overcome tumor resistance mechanisms and enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies through combination approaches involving histone deacetylase inhibitors and other sensitizing agents. His work bridges basic immunological mechanisms with clinical applications, as evidenced by numerous clinical trial-related publications.

Analysis of Dr. Economou's recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational immunotherapy research, particularly in T-cell engineering and adoptive cell transfer for melanoma treatment. His work shows evolution from basic immunological studies to sophisticated clinical applications, with particular attention to resistance mechanisms and strategies to overcome them. A notable trend is his investigation of dual resistance to both targeted therapies and immunotherapies, seeking combination strategies to overcome these barriers.

Dr. Economou has received significant recognition through his appointment to the Louis D. Beaumont Chair in Surgery, reflecting his leadership and contributions to the field of surgical oncology.

As Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded research projects, Dr. Economou has led substantial research efforts in cancer immunotherapy. His grants portfolio includes R01 funding for PET imaging of TCR-engineered T cells, dendritic cell-based immunotherapy for melanoma, and genetic immunotherapy for hepatocellular cancer. He has also directed training programs including the UCLA Clinical Scientist Training in Cancer Gene Medicine (K12) and the UCLA Cancer Gene Medicine Training Program (T32), indicating his commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers. His work involves multidisciplinary collaborations across surgery, immunology, and molecular pharmacology.