WEHI Immunology Special Seminar hosted by Professor Daniel Gray

Tak W. Mak, PhD

Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto

Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics and Immunology, University of Toronto, Canada

Co-Director (Scientific), Centre for Oncology and Immunology, Hong Kong

Honorary Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong

Beyond Immune Checkpoint Blockade: Emerged Strategies

Davis Auditorium

Join via TEAMS

Including Q&A session

Tak W. Mak is internationally known for his pioneering work on the genetics and molecular biology of cancer and the immune system. In 1984, his group cloned the gene encoding the human TCRβ chain, providing the basis for CAR-T treatment. His team also showed that CTLA4 negatively regulates T cell activation, paving the way for checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. Most recently, his team established that the brain communicates with the immune system via T and B cells producing acetylcholine.

In the biotech arena, Dr Mak co-founded Agios Pharmaceuticals and Treadwell Therapeutics. These companies specialize in delineating metabolic vulnerabilities in tumour cells that can be exploited as novel cancer therapies. Two IDH inhibitors are now FDA-approved for AML treatment, and two first-in-class agents targeting aneuploidy in advanced tumours are now in phase II clinical trials. 

Dr Mak has published over 1000 peer-reviewed research papers, holds dozens of patents, and has won numerous awards.

All welcome!