Dr. Sylvain Simon is an expert in T-cell biology, focusing on how these specialized immune cells use the T-cell receptor (TCR) to recognize and eliminate diseased cells. Advances in immunotherapy have enabled scientists to repurpose T cells as powerful cancer treatments, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, in which genetically engineered receptors allow T cells to recognize new tumor targets. Dr. Simon aims to improve engineered T-cell therapies by making them more resistant to tumor escape mechanisms. He co-developed a novel synthetic receptor that combines the exquisite sensitivity of the TCR with the ability of CARs to recognize targets directly on the surface of cancer cells. This platform, called a chimeric T-cell receptor (ChTCR), enables a single engineered T cell to recognize multiple tumor targets simultaneously with superior sensitivity. Dr. Simon is now translating this technology toward next-generation anti-cancer T-cell therapies designed to overcome tumor variability and deliver deeper and more durable clinical responses for patients.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Fred Hutch, 2023
PhD, Immunology and Cancer Research, University of Nantes, 2016
MS, Biotechnology and Therapeutic Research, University of Nantes, 2013
BS, Biology, University of Nantes, 2011
Multiple myeloma
Acute myeloid leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Blood disorders
Leukemia
Lupus
Lymphoma
Prostate cancer
Autoimmunity
— Dr. Sylvain Simon