Melissa M. Berrien-Elliott, PhD

Melissa M. Berrien-Elliott, PhD

Assistant Professor

Address:
Division of Oncology
Mail Stop 8007-0057-06
Washington University
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

Room 634, Southwest Tower (office)

Research Interests
  • Natural killer cells
  • Translational immunology
  • Cancer immunotherapy
Research

My research uses translational approaches to understand how natural killer (NK) cells are impacted by cancer immunotherapies and how the tumor microenvironment contributes to immune evasion. In order to achieve this, I work closely with clinicians at Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children’s Hospital assessing clinical samples from patients enrolled in our clinical trials. The ultimate goal of my research is to use these underlying mechanistic insights to develop novel treatments for cancer patients.

Recent work has identified that NK cells display enhanced functionality after brief cytokine activation. These cytokine-induced memory-like (ML) NK cells are safe in patients with relapsed or refractory AML. We have a number of ongoing clinical trials testing the efficacy of these cells in adult and pediatric patients with hematologic malignancies. With mass cytometry, we can monitor the functionality and longevity of these cells after they’re transferred into patients. Using this powerful single-cell technology, we have identified novel checkpoints that limit the efficacy of these transferred cells. Ongoing studies are using antibody blockade therapy in pre-clinical models to develop the clinical rationale for combining ML NK cells with checkpoint blockade therapy.

Furthermore, we are currently developing approaches combining these function-enabled ML NK cells with various tumor-targeting strategies, such as chimeric-antigen receptors and tumor-targeting antibodies. The goal of these combination approaches are to be able to treat a wider variety of tumors with ML NK cell adoptive therapies, including solid tumors.

Profiles (publications)

Biosketch

Education

  • 2014: PhD, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO
  • 2006: BS, Marine Biology with Honors, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL

Academic Positions & Employment

  • present-2022: Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stem Cell Biology Section, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2022-2019: Instructor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stem Cell Biology Section, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2019-2014: Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology (Todd A. Fehniger, MD, PhD, mentor), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2009-2006: Research Technician, Department of Pathology and Immunology (lab of Wayne Yokoyama, MD, PhD), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Honors & Awards

  • 2022: Clinical Research Training Center Citizenship Award
  • 2018: Meeting of the Society of Natural Immunity, Travel Award for Best Abstract
  • 2017: NIH Loan Repayment Program, NHLBI, Clinical Research recipient (2 year)
  • 2017: American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award
  • 2016: Hematopoietic Development and Malignancy Program Retreat, Best Abstract
  • 2015: NIH Loan Repayment Program, NHLBI, Clinical Research recipient (2 year)

Professional Societies

  • present-2018: American Association for Cancer Research
  • present-2017: American Society of Hematology
    • 2020, ASH Abstract Reviewer – Immunotherapies
  • present-2015: Society for Natural Immunity
  • present-2010: American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • present-2010: The American Association of Immunologists
    • 2020, AAI Annual Meeting Session Moderator – Tumor Immunology