Dr. Palena’s research focuses on the immunological targeting of drivers of tumor metastasis and resistance to therapy. Her recent studies on a novel tumor-associated antigen, the transcription factor brachyury, have led to the rapid translation of 3 cancer vaccine platforms targeting a driver of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a process associated with cancer progression, from basic discovery to Phase I and II clinical studies.

As the Head of the Immunoregulation Section, Dr. Palena continues to investigate innovative immunotherapeutic approaches that may be used in combination with other anti-neoplastic agents to generate anti-tumor immune responses that could alleviate metastatic disease in cancer patients.