Jennifer Hope

Jennifer Hope, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine. Her research focuses on T cell differentiation mechanisms, particularly in cancer and chronic viral infection contexts. She investigates how T cells transition to exhausted states and explores therapeutic strategies to enhance immune checkpoint blockade efficacy.

Education:

• PhD – Drexel University College of Medicine (2017)
• Additional training at Erasmus University Medical Center (2014–2016)
• BS – Ursinus College (2010)

Research Interests:

Dr. Hope's work centers on unraveling how PSGL-1 signaling and the tumor microenvironment drive T cell exhaustion. Her lab uses models of pancreatic cancer and chronic viral infections to identify novel targets for immunotherapy. Key themes include immunometabolism, checkpoint resistance, and T cell progenitor differentiation.

Awards & Honors:

• American Association for Cancer Research Early-Career Hill Day Cancer Research Advocate (2023)
• Society for the ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Sparkathon 2022 Cohort Member
• American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow (2020–2022)
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T23 (2018–2020)

Advising & Grants:

Graduate student positions are currently open. Her postdoctoral training at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (2017–2022) and fellowships have supported her work. Research aligns with programs in Cancer Biology, Immunology, and Molecular Medicine at Drexel.

Labs & Teams:

Her lab integrates immunological, molecular, and systems biology approaches to study T cell dysfunction. Collaborations focus on translational immunotherapy strategies for refractory cancers and chronic infections.