David A. Braun, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Louis Goodman and Alfred Gilman Yale ScholarCards
About
Research
Overview
How do somatic alterations impact response to immunotherapy?
We integrate genomic, transcriptomic, and immunopathologic analyses with demographic and clinical response data to dissect how tumor genetic features contribute to response or resistance to current immunotherapies, with a focus on immune checkpoint inhibitors (for example, see Braun et al, Nature Medicine, 2020 and Braun et al, JAMA Oncology, 2019)
How does the immune microenvironment impact anti-tumor immunity?
The tumor-immune microenvironment is comprised of heterogeneous cell types that may positively or negatively impact anti-tumor immune responses. Our prior work identified key immune cell populations and cellular interaction circuits that were enriched in advanced kidney cancer (see Braun et al, Cancer Cell, 2021). We now aim to utilize single-cell proteogenomic tools to systematically dissect this complex ecosystem and identify candidate immune cell populations and cellular states that impact response or resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Further, we aim to construct patient-derived model systems to enable a mechanistic understanding of these potential determinants of anti-tumor immunity.
What are the target tumor antigens and what are the characteristics of T cells that recognize them?
The heart of antigen-specific anti-tumor immunity is the interaction between the T cell receptor (TCR) expressed on the surface of tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) and the peptide-MHC complex, displayed on a tumor cell. However, in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and many other cancer types, the important tumor antigens and the T cells that recognize them remain largely unknown. We aim to identify relevant tumor antigens that can ultimately enable innovative “precision” approaches to cancer immunotherapies (for example, see our personalized neoantigen vaccine in RCC, NCT02950766, Co-PIs: Braun, Choueiri, Ott)
Medical Research Interests
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Kidney Cancer
Learn More on Yale MedicineUrologic Cancers
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Board Certifications
Medical Oncology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2020
Internal Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2016
Yale Medicine News
News
News
- February 26, 2025
Study Identifies Specific Immune Features that Could Be Targeted to Improve Cancer Treatment
- February 12, 2025Source: Fox News
Cancer vaccine shows promising results for certain patients
- February 06, 2025Source: Yahoo
BioNTech’s oncology vaccine trial sees all patients living kidney cancer-free
- February 06, 2025Source: HealthDay
Therapeutic Vaccine May Fight Advanced Kidney Cancer
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Contacts
Yale School of Medicine
333 Cedar St, PO Box 208028
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
Administrative Support
Locations
BraunLab
Lab
300 George Street, Fl 6th Floor, Ste Suite 6400
New Haven, CT 06511
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