Carl June

Dr. Carl June at the University of Pennsylvania led the first successful clinical trials of CD19-targeting CAR-T cell therapy (CTL019, later tisagenlecleucel) in relapsed and refractory B cell leukemia, demonstrating complete remissions in patients with no other options. His landmark 2011 New England Journal of Medicine paper reporting the first three CLL patients treated with CAR-T cells launched the field of cellular immunotherapy as a clinical reality. His continued research on next-generation CAR-T designs, manufacturing innovations, and solid tumor applications drives the evolution of cellular cancer immunotherapy.