Roybal Lab
Principal Investigator: Kole T Roybal
Institution: University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: ✅ Accepting PhD Students ✅ Hiring Postdocs
Research Focus
Molecular biology, genomics, and immunology are revolutionizing modern medicine by uncovering key molecular markers in human diseases. Imaging technologies that can directly visualize these markers, such as immune- positron emission tomography (immunoPET), are at the forefront of such innovation, reshaping current medical practice. In this proposal, we take advantage of both the superior targeting specificity of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), and the amplification inherent in cell signaling by developing a T cell-based imaging method. Using synthetic biology, we will develop engineered T cells with an antibody-derived chimeric receptor called “SNIPR” that has an antigen-recognizing single-chain variable fragment (scFv) as an extracellular domain and an engineered transcription factor as an intracellular domain. Upon binding its target antigen, SNIPR releases its transcription factor, which migrates into the nucleus and induces the overexpression of various exogenous reporter gene(s). This approach is fully customizable and versatile, and most importantly, can greatly enhance sensitivity through multiple rounds of signal amplifications. The main goals of this proposal are to establish…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R01CA271602-04: Engineered T cell-based imaging for glioblastoma and CAR-T cell tracking (2026)
- 5R01CA280440-04: Combination antigen sensing engineered T cell for precise recognition and enhanced elimination of solid tumors (2026)
- 5R01CA280440-03: Combination antigen sensing engineered T cell for precise recognition and enhanced elimination of solid tumors (2025)
- 5R01CA271602-03: Engineered T cell-based imaging for glioblastoma and CAR-T cell tracking (2025)
- 5R01CA280440-02: Combination antigen sensing engineered T cell for precise recognition and enhanced elimination of solid tumors (2024)
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