Padmanee Sharma

Padmanee Sharma at MD Anderson is a pioneer in understanding immune checkpoint mechanisms, having co-discovered the role of ICOS (inducible T-cell costimulator) as a biomarker of ipilimumab response in bladder cancer. Her research has defined cellular and molecular mechanisms by which tumors exclude or suppress immune infiltration, contributing to the immune desert and immune excluded phenotype classification. She has been central to defining how sequential checkpoint blockade can overcome immune exclusion. Her lab's work on immune microenvironment reprogramming has advanced strategies to convert cold tumors to immunotherapy-responsive.