João Lacerda Lab

Hematology and Transplantation Immunology

The main research focus of our laboratory is the study of immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in humans and the development of strategies that modulate immune responses and tolerance post-transplant. Donor immunity emerging post-transplant plays a pivotal role in the protection against pathogens, such as Aspergillus, CMV and EBV, as well as in the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-leukemia effect.

Our laboratory aims to identify immunological risk factors and the mechanisms by which these complications emerge post-transplant. We are particularly interested in developing strategies that may be translated into the clinical setting, such as the use of pathogen-specific T cells, donor regulatory T cells for GVHD and disease-specific T cells, with the aim of improving patient survival.

We continue to develop several lines of research in the field of genetic susceptibility for viral and fungal infections after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

More recently, we engaged in developing several novel strategies for CAR T cell therapies of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.