Heather Gibson, Ph.D.
Address
4100 John R, HWCRC 823 Detroit, MI 48201Office address
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
4100 John R, HWCRC 823
Detroit, MI 48201
Mentoring
Mark Gregory
Alexander Ullrich
James Glassbrook Graduated 2/15/2023 Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology
Justin Hackett Graduated 1/20/2023 Cancer Biology
Department
Oncology
Keywords
Tumor immunology, cancer immunotherapy, drug resistance, tumor microenvironment
Research interests
• Development of new immunotherapy strategies
• Regulation of T cell trafficking and activation in the tumor microenvironment (TME)
• Modulation of macrophages in the TME
• Imaging modalities to monitor immune activity in situ
Research description
Cancer immunotherapy breakthroughs have shown tremendous promise, but there remains an urgency to determine which patients will respond and why many do not. My lab uses functional genomics and genetically diverse animal models to pinpoint genes and/or pathways involved in immunotherapy resistance. We have discovered putative regulators of both immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-tumor antibody, also known as targeted immunotherapy. The goal is to identify both biomarkers and actionable targets to improve clinical outcomes. Additionally, we have multiple ongoing collaborative projects aimed at developing new strategies to engage the immune system against cancer.
PubMed - my bibliography
Education/training
BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2004): Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
PhD in Immunology (2011): Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Courses taught by Heather Gibson, Ph.D.
Winter Term 2026 (future)
- IBS7090 - Fundamentals of Immunology
- IM7010 - Fundamentals of Immunology
- IM7030 - Molecular Biology of Viruses
Fall Term 2025 (current)
Spring-Summer Term 2025
Winter Term 2025
- CB8920 - Principles of Translational and Clinical Cancer Research
- IBS7090 - Biomedical Immunology
- IM7010 - Fundamentals of Immunology
- IM7030 - Molecular Biology of Viruses
- CB7210 - Fundamentals of Cancer Biology
Winter Term 2024
- CB7210 - Fundamentals of Cancer Biology
- CB8920 - Principles of Translational and Clinical Cancer Research
- IBS7090 - Biomedical Immunology
- IM7010 - Fundamentals of Immunology
- IM7030 - Molecular Biology of Viruses