Claudia M. Palena

American immunologist

Claudia M. Palena

Claudia M. Palena is an American immunologist known for her research in cancer immunotherapy, particularly in the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting tumor antigens. She is a senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where she leads a research team focused on understanding the mechanisms of tumor progression and immune evasion.

Early Life and Education

Claudia M. Palena was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She completed her undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Buenos Aires. She then pursued her doctoral studies in immunology at the same institution, where she developed a keen interest in cancer research.

Career

After completing her Ph.D., Palena moved to the United States to further her research in cancer immunology. She joined the National Cancer Institute as a postdoctoral fellow, where she worked on the development of cancer vaccines. Her work at the NCI has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of how tumors evade the immune system and how this knowledge can be used to develop effective immunotherapies.

Research Focus

Palena's research primarily focuses on the identification and characterization of tumor antigens that can be targeted by the immune system. Her team has been involved in the development of vaccines that stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. One of her notable contributions is the study of the brachyury protein, a transcription factor that is overexpressed in several types of cancer and is associated with tumor metastasis and resistance to therapy.

Contributions to Cancer Immunotherapy

Palena has been a pioneer in the field of cancer immunotherapy, contributing to the development of therapeutic vaccines and combination therapies that enhance the immune response against tumors. Her work has led to several clinical trials aimed at evaluating the efficacy of these novel treatments in patients with advanced cancers.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Claudia M. Palena has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to cancer research. She has been recognized by the NCI for her innovative work in immunotherapy and has been invited to speak at various international conferences on cancer research.

Personal Life

Claudia M. Palena is married and has two children. She is an advocate for women in science and actively mentors young researchers in the field of immunology.

Related Pages

• Cancer immunotherapy
• National Cancer Institute
• Brachyury