Kim Newton

Kim Newton has made critical contributions to understanding the execution of necroptosis through genetic and biochemical dissection of the RIPK3-MLKL pathway, demonstrating that MLKL phosphorylation by RIPK3 triggers its oligomerization and translocation to the plasma membrane where it forms lytic pores. Her work using genetic models revealed that necroptosis contributes to both anti-tumor immunity through immunogenic cell death and tumor promotion through chronic inflammation. She showed that RIPK3 expression levels in tumors predict necroptosis competence and correlate with immune infiltration patterns. Her research has defined the molecular requirements for therapeutic induction of necroptosis in cancer.