Jarrod Dudakov

Dr. Jarrod Dudakov serves as Associate Professor in the Translational Science and Therapeutics Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and holds an Affiliate Assistant Professor appointment in the Department of Immunology at the University of Washington. His research focuses on thymic regeneration mechanisms following damage from cancer therapies, aging, and disease to develop novel immunotherapies for immune recovery.

Dr. Dudakov's academic background includes:

• PhD in Immunology/Stem Cell Biology from Monash University (2009)
• BS (Hons) in Immunology/Biochemistry from Monash University (2003)
• BA in Politics from Monash University (2002)
• Postdoctoral Fellowships at Monash University (2009-2010) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2010-2013)
• Senior Research Scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2013-2016)

The Dudakov Lab investigates thymic regeneration through three core research pillars: mechanisms of innate lymphoid cell (ILC)-mediated repair involving IL-22 and BMP4 pathways; identification of damage-sensing triggers like CD4+CD8+ thymocyte depletion; and exploration of regenerative network interactions between IL-22, KGF, BMP4, and RANKL. Current work employs mouse models to understand how thymic epithelial cells respond to injury and how these processes can be harnessed to boost T cell immunity in cancer patients, aging populations, and immunocompromised individuals.

As leader of the Dudakov Lab within Fred Hutch's Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, he directs research on thymopoiesis and tissue regeneration. The lab's innovative approaches include studying radio-resistant ILCs, characterizing thymic epithelial progenitor cells, and developing dual-knockout models to investigate pathway redundancies. Recent findings on zinc's role in immune regeneration and age-related thymic decline have been featured in multiple Science Spotlight publications.