Mikael Pittet

Mikael Pittet

Mikael Pittet is a renowned immunologist and cancer researcher known for his pioneering work in the field of tumor immunology. He is currently a professor at Harvard Medical School and a researcher at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Systems Biology.

Early Life and Education

Mikael Pittet was born in Switzerland. He completed his undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Lausanne. He then pursued a PhD in immunology at the same institution, where he focused on the role of the immune system in combating cancer.

Career

After completing his PhD, Pittet moved to the United States for postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. He joined the laboratory of Ralph Weissleder, a prominent figure in the field of molecular imaging and nanomedicine. During his postdoctoral training, Pittet developed innovative techniques to visualize and understand the behavior of immune cells within tumors.

In 2008, Pittet was appointed as an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and established his own laboratory at the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Systems Biology. His research focuses on understanding the complex interactions between tumors and the immune system, with the goal of developing new immunotherapies for cancer.

Research Contributions

Pittet's research has significantly advanced the understanding of tumor immunology. He has developed novel imaging techniques to study the behavior of immune cells in living organisms. His work has revealed important insights into how tumors evade the immune system and how immune cells can be reprogrammed to attack cancer cells more effectively.

One of his notable contributions is the discovery of the role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in promoting tumor growth and metastasis. His research has shown that targeting TAMs can enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.

Awards and Honors

Mikael Pittet has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to cancer research and immunology. Some of his notable awards include:

• The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Team Science Award
• The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Young Investigator Award
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Pioneer Award

Personal Life

Pittet is married and has two children. He enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with his family.

See Also

• Immunotherapy
• Tumor microenvironment
• Cancer research
• Harvard Medical School
• Massachusetts General Hospital