James Bhatt

James Bhatt has investigated the gut microbiome as a systemic modulator of immune checkpoint inhibitor response, contributing to understanding how intestinal microbial composition influences anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy efficacy. His research characterized how specific bacterial taxa including Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Ruminococcaceae are enriched in the microbiomes of IO responders in melanoma and NSCLC, while dysbiotic microbiomes associated with antibiotic use correlate with poorer IO outcomes. He has studied fecal microbiota transplantation from IO responders to non-responders as a strategy to rescue checkpoint inhibitor resistance in refractory melanoma, demonstrating proof-of-concept for microbiome modulation to enhance IO therapy. His translational work on microbiome mechanisms including short-chain fatty acid production, dendritic cell activation, and T cell differentiation has contributed to mechanistic understanding of how gut bacteria influence systemic anti-tumor immunity.