Michael Karin

Michael Karin has made foundational contributions to understanding how Toll-like receptor signaling and NF-kB activation in macrophages can be harnessed for cancer immunotherapy, while also demonstrating how chronic NF-kB activation promotes inflammation-driven carcinogenesis. His work revealed the dual nature of innate immune signaling in cancer and identified therapeutic windows for TLR agonist-mediated macrophage activation. He has contributed to understanding how TLR7/8/9 agonists reprogram immunosuppressive TAMs into anti-tumor effectors. His research connects inflammation biology with macrophage-targeted cancer immunotherapy.