Nicholas A Zorko

Nicholas A Zorko is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine - Hematology, Oncology, Transplant and Cellular Therapy at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on advancing immunotherapies for prostate cancer, particularly through the modulation of natural killer (NK) cell function.

Research Interests:

• Natural Killer Cell Immunology
• Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC)
• Trispecific Killer Engagers
• Immune Microenvironment in Prostate Cancer
• Therapeutic Targeting of DLL3 and PSMA
• Disparities in NK Cell Function Across Racial Backgrounds

His recent publications and active research projects highlight a strong trajectory in translational cancer immunology, with a focus on enhancing NK cell cytotoxicity and evaluating novel immunotherapies in clinical settings. These studies frequently involve collaboration with industry partners such as Amgen, Janux Therapeutics, and Lava Therapeutics, indicating a high level of engagement in clinical trial development and implementation.

Scientific Contributions and Grants:

• Principal Investigator on multiple active research grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and major biopharmaceutical companies.
• Focus on Phase 1 and Phase 3 clinical trials for novel agents in mCRPC.
• Member of the Miller Lab Consortium, which has extensive experience in NK cell therapy clinical applications.

Advising and Funding: As a principal investigator on numerous grants, Dr. Zorko leads a research program involving clinical and translational studies. While specific student advisees are not listed, his role as PI suggests mentorship of trainees and junior researchers. His funding portfolio reflects strong support for innovative cancer immunotherapy research.

Laboratories and Teams: Dr. Zorko is affiliated with the Miller Lab Consortium, a collaborative research team that has treated over 400 patients with NK cell infusions and enrolled more than 500 in prospective trials. The team conducts retrospective analyses of over 5,000 patient cases, underscoring the scale and impact of their work in cellular therapy and cancer immunology.