Kelly Tran

Kelly Tran conducts basic and translational research on T-cell immunity in Merkel cell carcinoma, focusing on expanding and characterizing MCPyV-specific and neoantigen-reactive tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for adoptive cell therapy applications. Her NCI laboratory has developed methods to identify and enrich MCPyV large T antigen-specific TILs and has begun early clinical translation of ACT protocols in MCC patients who have failed checkpoint inhibitors, particularly immunosuppressed transplant recipients with MCC who cannot receive checkpoint blockade.