Jessica Thaxton

Jessica Thaxton, PhD, MsCR, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology within the UNC School of Medicine. She is also a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and co-leader of its Cancer Cell Biology Research Program.

• Research Focus: Mechanistic studies of immune cell dysfunction in tumors, targeting cell stress signaling, metabolism, and organelle dynamics for novel cancer therapies.
• Collaborations: Head and neck cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, and metastatic bone disease oncologists.
• Techniques: Spectral flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and Seahorse bioanalysis.

Research Interests:
The Thaxton Lab investigates how the tumor microenvironment dysregulates immune cell metabolism and organelle dynamics, particularly in T cells. By repairing these processes, they aim to develop translational therapies for cancer patients. Their work bridges basic discovery with clinical applications, focusing on hypoxia-induced stress signaling and lipid metabolism.

Scientific Trends:
Recent publications highlight her team’s exploration of metabolic enzymes like Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) that limit T-cell energy production in tumors. These studies integrate advanced imaging, genomic, and metabolic analyses to identify therapeutic strategies that enhance T-cell persistence and efficacy in solid tumors.

Students and Collaborations:
Her lab includes graduate students from Cell Biology & Physiology, Microbiology & Immunology, and Pharmacology. Notable contributions include Coral del Mar Alicea Pauneto’s work on stress signaling inhibition and Ellie Hunt’s research on lipid metabolism in T cells. Collaborations with senior scientist Genevieve Clutton and oncologists drive translational impact.