Winship Cellular Therapy Initiative
The Winship Cellular Therapy Initiative (CTI) advances the discovery, development and clinical translation of next-generation cellular therapies for cancer.
Advancing the Next Generation of Cellular Therapies
Cellular therapies are transforming cancer treatment by harnessing or engineering immune cells to identify and attack cancer.
The Winship Cellular Therapy Initiative (CTI) brings together researchers, clinicians, manufacturing experts and strategic partners to accelerate the discovery, development and clinical translation of next-generation cellular therapies.
The initiative is housed within the Cancer Immunology Research Program, reflecting its close scientific alignment with immunotherapy research. It also serves as a unifying platform across Winship's research programs and among collaborators throughout the broader cellular therapy community.
By integrating translational research, specialized GMP cell and viral vector manufacturing capabilities, investigator-initiated clinical trials and strategic partnerships, CTI enables researchers to advance promising discoveries from the laboratory to early-phase clinical testing.
Mission
To establish Winship as a national leader in the discovery, development and clinical translation of next-generation cellular therapies for patients with cancer.
Research Focus Areas
Lab technicians in Winship's GMP facility.
Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapies
- Next-generation TIL manufacturing
- Personalized cell therapy approaches
- Novel T-cell programming strategies
- Therapies for checkpoint-resistant solid tumors
Engineered Cell Therapies
- CAR T-cell therapies
- TCR-engineered T cells
- Advanced immune cell engineering, including gene editing and safety-switch technologies
- Investigator-initiated cellular therapy products
Translational Immunology
- Biomarker discovery
- Mechanisms of response and resistance
- Integration of clinical and laboratory research
Innovative Manufacturing
- GMP cell and viral manufacturing capabilities
- In-house cell engineering capabilities
- Strategies to improve manufacturing speed, efficiency and scalability
- Biomarker- and gene engineering-based approaches to enhance cell product quality and potency
Core Areas of Impact
Discovery and Innovation: Develop novel cellular therapies and investigator-led programs that generate intellectual property, expand treatment opportunities and support future commercialization.
Clinical Translation: Accelerate the advancement of cellular therapies into clinical trials and expand access to innovative treatments for patients with both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
Manufacturing and Operations: Leverage Winship's GMP manufacturing infrastructure and specialized expertise to support investigator-led studies, IND-enabling research and long-term program growth.
Education and Workforce Development: Partner with educational and training programs to prepare the next generation of physician-scientists, researchers and clinical professionals in cellular therapy research, manufacturing, regulatory science and clinical translation.
Strategic Partnerships
The initiative is positioned to expand collaboration with leading academic, clinical and industry partners, including:
- Georgia Tech
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
- Industry partners
- Philanthropic organizations
- Regional and national collaborators
Through these partnerships, CTI aims to create a sustainable pipeline of innovation that advances cellular therapy research and improves outcomes for patients with cancer.
Scientific Co-Directors
Gregory B. Lesinski, PhD, MPH Associate Director for Basic Research and Shared Resources
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Research Program
Cancer Immunology
Chrystal M. Paulos, PhD Co-Leader, Cancer Immunology Research Program
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Research Program
Cancer Immunology
