معرفی
Matthew VanBrocklin is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine and holds an adjunct appointment as Associate Professor of Oncological Sciences. His laboratory focuses on melanoma biology, CRISPR-based cancer modeling, oncolytic immunotherapy, and immune checkpoint biology, with translational goals of improving therapeutic strategies for melanoma and other solid tumors.
Education:
- B.S., Western Michigan University
- M.S., Mayo Graduate School
- Ph.D., Western Michigan University
Research Interests:
Dr. VanBrocklin’s research spans four integrated themes:
- RCAS-TVA melanoma modeling: identifying novel melanoma drivers (NF1, KIT, RAC1, PDGFRA) and resistance mechanisms.
- CRISPR/Homology Directed Repair: developing single-vector CRISPR-HDR systems for in vivo cancer and monogenic disease modeling.
- Immune checkpoint biology: dissecting how B7-H3 and B7-H4 ligands enable immune evasion and designing blocking antibodies.
- Oncolytic immunotherapy: engineering RNA viruses with tumor-restricted tropism and combining them with checkpoint blockade.
His work employs sophisticated mouse models, CRISPR gene editing, virology, immunology, and preclinical drug evaluation to accelerate discovery and translation.
Scientific Awards & Honors:
None explicitly listed in the provided text.
Funding & Collaborations:
Although specific grants are not detailed, his active translational studies—including longitudinal patient sample analyses with Dr. Robert Andtbacka—indicate robust funding and collaborative networks.
Laboratory & Affiliations:
Dr. VanBrocklin leads a research group within the Molecular Biology Program at the University of Utah and is affiliated with the Huntsman Cancer Institute (email domain: hci.utah.edu). His lab maintains cutting-edge facilities for viral vector production, CRISPR engineering, and in vivo tumor modeling.
