Michael A. Curran, Ph.D.

Department of Immunology, Division of Discovery Science

About Dr. Michael A. Curran

Dr. Curran received a Ph.D. in Immunology from Stanford University where he was awarded the McDevitt prize for the best graduate thesis in his year. Dr. Curran was the first recipient of the prestigious American Cancer Society Levy Fellowship to fund his post-doctoral studies in the lab of Dr. James P. Allison. While pursuing his postdoctoral studies at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Curran published several influential manuscripts describing how T cell co-stimulatory pathways could be modulated in tandem to mediate immunologic rejection of melanomas in mice. Dr. Curran was the first to describe how combination blockade of the T cell co-inhibitory receptors CTLA-4 and PD-1 promoted the rejection of a majority of murine melanomas – a combination that remains the most effective FDA-approved immunotherapy. At the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Curran is an Associate Professor of Immunology and his Lab seeks to discover the underlying mechanisms of immune resistance in the “coldest” tumors, pancreatic and prostate adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma, so that rational therapeutic interventions can be developed to restore T cell infiltration and sensitivity to T cell checkpoint blockade. This research focuses on normalization of tumor oxygen metabolism to increase T cell metabolic fitness, activation of innate pro-inflammatory immune sensors capable of re-programming tumor myeloid stroma, and on discovery of novel immune checkpoint antibodies capable of depleting stromal elements responsible for T cell exclusion and function suppression. In 2019, Dr. Curran founded ImmunoGenesis, Inc. a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company advancing novel immunotherapies for “cold” tumor patients.

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Member, Cancer Medicine, Brain Tumor Center, Houston, TX

Professor, Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Member, Head and Neck Cancer Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Member, Graduate Faculty, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), Houston, TX

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001	Stanford University, Stanford, California, US, Immunology, Ph.D

Postgraduate Training

2004-2012	Postdoctoral Fellow, Immunology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York
2001-2004	Postdoctoral Fellow, Immunology, University of California, Berkeley, California
1995-2001	Predoctoral Fellow, Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
1994-1995	Undergraduate Laboratory Technician, Microbiology/Immunology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

Experience & Service

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Scientific Advisor, Academic Affairs, Sr VP Office, MD Anderson Focus Fund, Houston, TX, 2023 - Present

Other Professional Positions

Project 1 Co-Leader, Hepatocellular Cancer SPORE Group, Houston, TX, 2019 - Present

Co-Leader, HPV+ Cancers Moonshot, Houston, TX, 2019 - Present

Member and Co-Chair (2019-), Immunotherapy Platform Working Group, Houston, TX, 2017 - Present

Postdoctoral Fellow, Advisor: Dr. James P. Allison, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY, 2004 - 2012

Postdoctoral Fellow, Advisor: Dr. James P. Allison, University of California, Department of Immunology, Berkeley, CA, 2001 - 2004

Predoctoral Fellow, Advisor: Dr. Garry P. Nolan, Stanford University School of Medicine, Immunology Program, Stanford, CA, 1995 - 2001

Predoctoral Fellow, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 1995 - 2001

Undergraduate Laboratory Technician, Advisor: Dr. Marie-Louise Hammarskjold, University of Virginia, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Charlottesville, VA, 1994 - 1995

Extramural Institutional Committee Activities

Member, Graduate School Executive Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present

Member, GSBS Dean Selection Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2023

Member, Vivarium Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present

Member, Graduate Education Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present

Member, SCRB5 Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - Present

Member, GSBS Admissions Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016 - 2017

Editorial Activities

Editor (Oncology), Annual Reviews of Medicine, 2017 - Present

Associate Editor, Frontiers in Oncology, 2014

Associate Editor, Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer, 2013 - 2019

Honors & Awards

2023	Faculty Research Excellence Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2023	UT/MDACC GSBS Excellence in Education Award, The UT/MDACC GSBS
2021 - 2024	Andrew Sabin Family Foundation Scholar Award, Sabin Foundation
2019	Dr. John J. Kopchick Research Award, The UTHealth MD Anderson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
2017	DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Highlights (Pancreatic Cancer), Department of Defense (DOD)
2015	American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Early Career Faculty Travel Grant, American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
2014	Robert E. Chamberlain Distinguished Mentor Nominee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2014	American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) New Investigator of the Month, American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)
2011	Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) Immunology Program Postdoctoral Publication Award, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
2010	iSBTc Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting Presidential Award, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer
2001 - 2004	IDEC/Genentech/Ronald Levy Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, American Cancer Society (ACS)
2001	The Hugh McDevitt Prize, Stanford University
1996 - 1999	Markey Predoctoral Fellowship, Stanford University
1995	Phi Beta Kappa, University of Virginia
1995	Katz Undergraduate Research Symposium, First Prize, University of Virginia

Professional Memberships

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

2015 - Present

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

2010 - Present

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

2007 - Present

American Society of Immunologists (AAI)

2002 - Present

American Association of Immunologists (AAI)

2002 - Present

American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)

1998 - Present

American Society of Microbiology (ASM)

1996 - 1998

Selected Presentations & Talks

Local Presentations

2025. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Remodel Tumor Stroma to Drive Rejection of aPD-1 Refractory Cancers. Invited. James P. Allison Institute Seminar Series. Houston, Texas, US.
2023. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Effectively Treat Both Immune “Hot” and “Cold" Cancers. Conference. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Effectively Treat Both Immune “Hot” and “Cold" Cancers. Houston, TX, US.
2020. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Houston, TX, US.
2020. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Houston, TX, US.
2020. Pro-Inflammatory remodeling of the pancreatic cancer stroma by STING agonists of ascending potency. Conference. Pro-Inflammatory remodeling of the pancreatic cancer stroma by STING agonists of ascending potency. Houston, TX, US.
2019. Overcoming intratumoral attenuation of tumor-specific T cells. Conference. Overcoming intratumoral attenuation of tumor-specific T cells. Houston, TX, US.
2019. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Houston, TX, US.
2019. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Houston, TX, US.
2018. Melanoma evolves complete immunotherapy resistance through acquisition of a hypermetabolic phenotype. Conference. Melanoma evolves complete immunotherapy resistance through acquisition of a hypermetabolic phenotype. Houston, TX, US.
2018. IntraTumoral Immunotherapies. Conference. IntraTumoral Immunotherapies. Houston, TX, US.
2018. Fitting T cell checkpoint blockade into the overall immunotherapy paradigm. Conference. Fitting T cell checkpoint blockade into the overall immunotherapy paradigm. Houston, TX, US.
2017. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Houston, TX, US.
2016. Undermining the stromal foundation of solid tumor immune resistance. Conference. Undermining the stromal foundation of solid tumor immune resistance. Houston, TX, US.
2015. Oncology research for biologics & immunotherapy translation (ORBIT) pipeline and partnerships. Conference. Oncology research for biologics & immunotherapy translation (ORBIT) pipeline and partnerships. Houston, TX, US.
2015. Understanding checkpoint inhibitors: approved agents, drugs in development and combination strategies. Conference. Understanding checkpoint inhibitors: approved agents, drugs in development and combination strategies. Houston, TX, US.
2014. Therapeutic immune checkpoint blockade combinations in mouse and man. Conference. Therapeutic immune checkpoint blockade combinations in mouse and man. Houston, TX, US.
2014. Co-administration of 4-1BB agonist antibody converts a therapeutic HPV E6/E7 vaccine into a curative therapy. Conference. Co-administration of 4-1BB agonist antibody converts a therapeutic HPV E6/E7 vaccine into a curative therapy. Houston, TX, US.
2014. Identification and translation of optimal immunotherapy combinations. Conference. Identification and translation of optimal immunotherapy combinations. Houston, TX, US.
2013. Immunotherapy combinations: from mice to man. Conference. Immunotherapy combinations: from mice to man. Houston, TX, US.
2013. Combination co-stimulatory modulation: moving from mouse to man. Conference. Combination co-stimulatory modulation: moving from mouse to man. Houston, TX, US.

Regional Presentations

2012. Systemic 4-1BB activation induces a novel T-cell phenotype driven by high expression of eomesodermin. Conference. Systemic 4-1BB activation induces a novel T-cell phenotype driven by high expression of eomesodermin. Lost Pines, TX, US.

National Presentations

2025. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 dual-specific antibodies couple tumor stroma remodeling with checkpoint blockade to drive rejection of "cold" cancers. Poster. AACR Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
2024. Multimodal Pro-Inflammatory Conversion of Tumor Myeloid Stoma by STING Activation. Invited. Prostate Cancer Foundation Scientific Retreat. Carlsbad, CA, US.
2024. Innate Immune Remodeling of the Glioblastoma Myeloid Stoma. Invited. Christopher Davidson Forum. St Louis, MO, US.
2024. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Effectively Treat Both Immune "Hot" and "Cold" Cancers. Invited. Immuno-Oncology Summit. Philadelphia, PA, US.
2024. What's Next in IO. Panelist. Cancer Progress. New York, NY, US.
2023. Independent vs. Synergistic Activity of Drugs in Combination. Conference. Independent vs. Synergistic Activity of Drugs in Combination. Bethesda, MD, US.
2023. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Conference. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Boston, MA, US.
2023. The Future of Combination Therapies for Cancer Treatment. Conference. The Future of Combination Therapies for Cancer Treatment. Boston, MA, US.
2023. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Effectively Treat Both Immune “Hot” and “Cold" Cancers. Conference. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Effectively Treat Both Immune “Hot” and “Cold" Cancers. Boston, MA, US.
2022. Finding the right MET-hod to potentiate anti-PD-1 in HCC. Conference. NCI. Virtual, US.
2022. PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibody with Effector Function. Conference. PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibody with Effector Function. Boston, MA, US.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Conference. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Boston, MA, US.
2022. High-potency synthetic STING agonists rewire the myeloid stroma in the tumour microenvironment to amplify immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in refractory pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Conference. High-potency synthetic STING agonists rewire the myeloid stroma in the tumour microenvironment to amplify immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in refractory pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Boston, MA, US.
2022. State of the Art in Immuno-Oncology: Beyond PDx Inhibitors – or Not So Much Panel. Conference. State of the Art in Immuno-Oncology: Beyond PDx Inhibitors – or Not So Much Panel. New York, NY, US.
2022. Advances in Immunotherapy. Conference. Advances in Immunotherapy. Austin, TX, US.
2021. ATR-mediated CD47 and PD-L1 upregulation restricts radiotherapy-induced immune priming and abscopal responses in colorectal cancer. Conference. ATR-mediated CD47 and PD-L1 upregulation restricts radiotherapy-induced immune priming and abscopal responses in colorectal cancer. Washington, DC, US.
2021. High-potency synthetic STING agonists rewire the myeloid stroma in the tumour microenvironment to amplify immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in refractory pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Conference. High-potency synthetic STING agonists rewire the myeloid stroma in the tumour microenvironment to amplify immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in refractory pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Washington, DC, US.
2021. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Virtual, US.
2021. Climbing the Highest Peak: Targeting PD-1/L1 Failures in Solid Tumors. Conference. Climbing the Highest Peak: Targeting PD-1/L1 Failures in Solid Tumors. Virtual, US.
2020. Cytoreductive PD-L1/PD-L2 Antibodies Active Across Immune "Hot" and "Cold" Cancers. Conference. Cytoreductive PD-L1/PD-L2 Antibodies Active Across Immune "Hot" and "Cold" Cancers. Virtual, US.
2020. The Suppressive Yin Versus Pro-Inflammatory Yang of the Myeloid Stroma. Conference. The Suppressive Yin Versus Pro-Inflammatory Yang of the Myeloid Stroma. Virtual, US.
2020. Future of IO Combinations. Conference. Future of IO Combinations. Virtual, US.
2020. Breaking the Ice on the "Cold" Tumor Microenvironment. Conference. Breaking the Ice on the "Cold" Tumor Microenvironment. Virtual, US.
2020. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Virtual, US.
2020. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Houston, TX, US.
2019. Novel, high-potency STING agonists regress immunotherapy-resistant cancers. Conference. Novel, high-potency STING agonists regress immunotherapy-resistant cancers. Boston, MA, US.
2019. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Conference. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Los Angeles, CA, US.
2019. Best in Class PD-1 Pathway Blockade with Efficacy Against Cold Tumors. Conference. Best in Class PD-1 Pathway Blockade with Efficacy Against Cold Tumors. Boston, MA, US.
2018. Targeting regulatory molecules in cancer therapy: new insights and opportunities. Conference. Targeting regulatory molecules in cancer therapy: new insights and opportunities. National Harbor, MD, US.
2018. Novel, high-potency STING agonists regress immunotherapy-resistant cancers. Conference. Novel, high-potency STING agonists regress immunotherapy-resistant cancers. Boston, MA, US.
2018. Pro‐inflammatory conversion of the PDAC microenvironment. Conference. Pro‐inflammatory conversion of the PDAC microenvironment. San Diego, CA, US.
2018. Optimizing T cell frequency and function via checkpoint antibody/vaccine combinations. Conference. Optimizing T cell frequency and function via checkpoint antibody/vaccine combinations. Keystone, CO, US.
2018. Activation of myeloid IL-27 production initiates 4-1BB agonist hepatotoxicity. Conference. Activation of myeloid IL-27 production initiates 4-1BB agonist hepatotoxicity. San Francisco, CA, US.
2018. 4-1BB activation preserves stem-cell memory potential despite acquisition of terminal effector function. Conference. Pieris PIRS I-O Deep Dive & Respiratory Expert Discussion Key Opinion Leader Day. New York, NY, US.
2017. Activation of myeloid IL-27 production initiates 4-1BB agonist hepatotoxicity. Conference. Activation of myeloid IL-27 production initiates 4-1BB agonist hepatotoxicity. Boston, MA, US.
2016. Breaking the suppressive myeloid barrier to overcome checkpoint blockade resistance. Conference. Breaking the suppressive myeloid barrier to overcome checkpoint blockade resistance. Boston, MA, US.
2015. Cancer immunotherapy overview. Conference. Cancer immunotherapy overview. San Antonio, TX, US.
2015. Hypoxia is an essential driver of immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Conference. Hypoxia is an essential driver of immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. New York, NY, US.
2015. Principles of tumor immunology and immunotherapy. Conference. Principles of tumor immunology and immunotherapy. National Harbor, MD, US.
2015. Basic principles of tumor immunotherapy. Conference. Basic principles of tumor immunotherapy. Houston, TX, US.
2015. Identification and translation of optimal immunotherapy combinations. Conference. Identification and translation of optimal immunotherapy combinations. Boston, MA, US.
2013. Biomarkers of co-stimulatory immunotherapy in mouse and man. Conference. Biomarkers of co-stimulatory immunotherapy in mouse and man. Houston, TX, US.
2013. Combination therapies. Conference. Combination therapies. Houston, TX, US.
2013. Building on the success of CTLA-4 blockade through biomarker analyses and development of novel combinatorial strategies. Conference. Building on the success of CTLA-4 blockade through biomarker analyses and development of novel combinatorial strategies. Washington, DC, US.
2012. Combination hypoxia-specific chemotherapy and immunotherapy cures established murine prostate cancer. Conference. Combination hypoxia-specific chemotherapy and immunotherapy cures established murine prostate cancer. New York, NY, US.
2012. Systemic 4-1BB activation induces a novel T-cell phenotype driven by high expression of eomesodermin. Conference. Systemic 4-1BB activation induces a novel T-cell phenotype driven by high expression of eomesodermin. Boston, MA, US.
2011. 4-1BB agonist antibody treatment induces production of IL-15 and IL-27 by antigen presenting cells driving the formation of a novel eomes-dependent lineage of cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Conference. 4-1BB agonist antibody treatment induces production of IL-15 and IL-27 by antigen presenting cells driving the formation of a novel eomes-dependent lineage of cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Bethesda, MD, US.
2011. 4-1BB agonist antibody treatment induces production of IL-15 and IL-27 by antigen presenting cells driving the formation of a novel eomes-dependent lineage of cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Conference. 4-1BB agonist antibody treatment induces production of IL-15 and IL-27 by antigen presenting cells driving the formation of a novel eomes-dependent lineage of cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. New York, NY, US.
2011. 4-1BB agonist antibody treatment causes intra-tumoral accumulation of KLRG1+ CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells with a novel highly cytotoxic photype driven by the master-regulator eomesodermin. Conference. 4-1BB agonist antibody treatment causes intra-tumoral accumulation of KLRG1+ CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells with a novel highly cytotoxic photype driven by the master-regulator eomesodermin. San Francisco, CA, US.
2010. 4-1BB activation induces the master regulator eomes and a broad-spectrum Th1 phenotype which synergizes with CTLA-4 blockade to reject B16 melanoma. Conference. 4-1BB activation induces the master regulator eomes and a broad-spectrum Th1 phenotype which synergizes with CTLA-4 blockade to reject B16 melanoma. New York, NY, US.
2010. PD1 and CTLA-4 combination blockade expands infiltrating T-cells and reduces regulatory T and myeloid cells within B16 melanoma tumors. Conference. PD1 and CTLA-4 combination blockade expands infiltrating T-cells and reduces regulatory T and myeloid cells within B16 melanoma tumors. Keystone, CO, US.
2009. Cellular tumor vaccines expressing flt3-ligand (FL3vax) synergize with a broad spectrum of immuno-adjuvant antibodies to drive the rejection of established tumors. Conference. Cellular tumor vaccines expressing flt3-ligand (FL3vax) synergize with a broad spectrum of immuno-adjuvant antibodies to drive the rejection of established tumors. Snowbird, UT, US.
2008. Cellular tumor vaccines expressing flt3-ligand synergize with CTLA-4 blockade to reject established tumors. Conference. Cellular tumor vaccines expressing flt3-ligand synergize with CTLA-4 blockade to reject established tumors. San Diego, CA, US.
2006. Beyond GMCSF: adjuvants and alternatives for autologous tumor vaccination. Conference. Beyond GMCSF: adjuvants and alternatives for autologous tumor vaccination. Boston, MA, US.
2001. Lentiviral vectors: biology and application. Conference. Lentiviral vectors: biology and application. Seattle, WA, US.
2000. Lentiviral vectors: biology and application. Conference. Lentiviral vectors: biology and application. Denver, CO, US.

International Presentations

2025. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 dual-specific antibodies couple tumor stroma remodeling with checkpoint blockade to drive rejection of "cold" cancers. Invited. CICON 2025. Utrecht, NL.
2023. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Effectively Treat Both Immune 'Hot' and 'Cold' Cancers. Conference. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Effectively Treat Both Immune 'Hot' and 'Cold' Cancers. Milan, IT.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Conference. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Turin, IT.
2020. Harnessing immunotherapy with novel approaches beyond checkpoint inhibitors. Conference. Harnessing immunotherapy with novel approaches beyond checkpoint inhibitors. Virtual, US.
2017. Hypoxia reduction sensitizes solid tumors to T cell checkpoint immunotherapy. Conference. Hypoxia reduction sensitizes solid tumors to T cell checkpoint immunotherapy. Mainz, DE.
2017. Activation of myeloid IL-27 production initiates 4-1BB agonist hepatotoxicity. Conference. Activation of myeloid IL-27 production initiates 4-1BB agonist hepatotoxicity. Boston, US.
2016. Hypoxia is an essential driver of immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Conference. Hypoxia is an essential driver of immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Bergen, NO.
2016. Understanding checkpoint inhibitors: approved agents, drugs in development and combination strategies. Conference. Understanding checkpoint inhibitors: approved agents, drugs in development and combination strategies. Taipei, TW.
2014. Therapeutic immune checkpoint blockade combinations in mouse and man. Conference. Therapeutic immune checkpoint blockade combinations in mouse and man. Dublin, IE.
2014. Identification and translation of optimal immunotherapy combinations. Conference. Identification and translation of optimal immunotherapy combinations. Mainz, DE.
2013. Peripheral and tumor immune correlates of advanced melanoma patients treated with combination nivolumab (anti-PD-1, BMS-936558) and ipilimumab. Conference. Peripheral and tumor immune correlates of advanced melanoma patients treated with combination nivolumab (anti-PD-1, BMS-936558) and ipilimumab, US.
2010. 4-1BB activation induces the master-regulator eomes and broad-spectrum TH1 phenotype which synergizes with CTLA-4 blockade to reject B16 melanoma. Conference. 4-1BB activation induces the master-regulator eomes and broad-spectrum TH1 phenotype which synergizes with CTLA-4 blockade to reject B16 melanoma. Washington, DC, US.

Formal Peers

2023. Cytotoxic PD-L1/PD-L2 Dual-Specific Antibodies Effectively Treat Both Immune “Hot” and “Cold" Cancers. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
2023. Functionally repolarizing myeloid stroma with synthetic STING agonists drives immune clearance of Glioblastoma. Invited. Prairie View, TX, US.
2023. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Invited. Charlotteville, VA, US.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Invited. Birmingham, AL, US.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
2022. GCC Seminar : Functionally repolarizing myeloid stroma with synthetic STING agonists drives immune clearance of Glioblastoma. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Invited. Phoenix, AZ, US.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Invited. Chicago, IL, US.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Invited. Salt Lake City, UT, US.
2022. Blockade of "Don't Eat Me" Signals Converts Radiotherapy into a Systemic Immunotherapy. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
2021. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Invited. Virtual, US.
2021. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Invited. Virtual, GB.
2020. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Invited. Boston, MA, US.
2020. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Invited. Tucson, AZ, US.
2019. 4-1BB activation preserves stem-cell memory potential despite acquisition of terminal effector function. Invited. Lexington, MA, US.
2019. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
2017. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Invited. South San Francisco, CA, US.
2016. Hypoxia drives tumor immune suppression and immunotherapy resistance. Invited. South San Francisco, CA, US.
2016. Hypoxia is an essential driver of immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Invited. Austin, TX, US.
2016. Hypoxia is an essential driver of immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Invited. Auckland, NZ.
2011. CTLA-4 Blockade: Turning the Tide of Tumor Immunity. Visiting. New York, NY, US.
2001. Lentiviral Vectors: Application and Use. Visiting. Seattle, WA, US.
2000. Lentiviral Vectors: Application and Use. Visiting. Denver, CO, US.

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Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Youngblood, MW, Tripathi, S, Najem, H, Congivaram, H, Gomez, M, Sears, T, Hurley, LA, Billingham, L, Silvers, C, Wang, W, Tiek, D, Sadagopan, N, Chaliparambil, R, Pu, Q, Wai, CM, Choudhury, A, Steffens, A, McCortney, K, Vazquez Cervantes, GI, Oyon, D, Fernandez, L, Selner, A, Fares, J, Hagan, M, Joy Trybula, S, Yeung, J, Peyre, M, Kalamarides, M, Zhang, P, Stegh, AH, Ashley, DM, Horbinski, C, Ahrendsen, JT, Jamshidi, P, Brat, DJ, Lukas, RV, Stupp, R, Lesniak, MS, Sonabend, AM, Dunn, GP, Chandler, JP, Tate, MC, Magill, ST, Miska, J, Curran, M, Raleigh, D, Heimberger, AB. STING activation induces cytotoxic and immune responses in meningiomas via inflammatory cell death pathways. Nature communications 17(1), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41680157.
Salameh, A, Bolli, E, Iezzi, M, Gagliardi, C, Conti, L, Cossu, C, Blezinger, P, Lamolinara, A, Lewis, A, Curran, M, Cavallo, F, Pericle, F. Tumor microenvironment remodeling by STING agonism sensitizes endothelial cells to cytotoxic anti-PD-L1/L2 antibody. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research 45(1), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41981447.
Boda, A, Bandey, I, Chowdhury, S, Aggarwal, S, Mekala, V, Fowlkes, NW, Anderson, A, Roszik, J, Curran, M, Morris, VK, Kopetz, S, Singh, M. IL1R1 blockade augments CD40 agonist mediated immunity in pancreatic cancer. Scientific reports 16(1), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41935073.
Tripathi, S, Najem, H, Hurley, LA, Du, R, Dmello, C, Ali, H, McCortney, K, Habashy, KJ, Zhang, P, Horbinski, C, Leoni, L, Avery, RJ, Lukas, RV, Sita, T, Raleigh, D, Sachdev, S, Stupp, R, Lesniak, MS, Ashley, DM, Procissi, D, Curran, M, Balyasnikova, IV, Heimberger, AB. STING-induced blood-brain barrier opening combined with radiotherapy potentiates antitumor response in a high-grade glioma model. The Journal of clinical investigation 136(4), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41697735.
Ong, JN, Grindel, B, Rankin, SA, Naylon, SH, Srinivasamani, A, Trusz, GJ, Liang, X, Uddin, M, Fuller, L, Curran, M, Roche, S, Takahashi, TT, Roberts, RW, Millward, S. Using extension-based mRNA display to design antibody-like proteinogenic peptides for human PD-L1. Protein Science 34(9), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40852896.
Jiang, XL, Rudqvist, N, Jiang, B, Ye, S, He, S, Liang, Q, Dou, J, Williams, MD, Dunn, J, Johnson, JM, Akagi, K, Xiao, W, Liang, S, Elayavalli, S, Sun, B, Parra Cuentas, ER, Ferrarotto, R, Garden, AS, Fuller, C, Reddy, JP, Gross, N, Lango, MN, Leung, CH, Liu, S, Liu, D, Li, M, Lee, JJ, Curran, M, Phan, J, Chen, K, Gillison, M. Depletion of Effector Regulatory T Cells Associates with Major Response to Induction Dual Immune Checkpoint Blockade. Cancer discovery 15(8):1569-1592, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40249124.
Zhao, Z, Hu, B, Deng, Y, Soeung, M, Yao, J, Bei, L, Zhang, Y, Gong, P, Huang, L, Jiang, Z, Gao, J, Peng, S, Nguyen, TK, Karki, M, Lim, B, Yee, C, Burks, JK, Zhang, Q, Ma, L, Gao, J, Tannir, NM, Han, L, Yu, D, Wang, L, Curran, M, Gubbiotti, M, Genovese, G, Gan, B, Li, W, Msaouel, P, Yang, L, Lin, C. Sickle cell disease induces chromatin introversion and ferroptosis in CD8+ T cells to suppress anti-tumor immunity. Immunity 58(6):1484-1501.e11, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40359940.
Lea, ST, Chen, CH, Wei, J, William, I, Lopez Del Castillo, I, Curran, M. NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Expands the Immunosuppressive Myeloid Stroma and Antagonizes the Therapeutic Benefit of STING Activation in Glioblastoma. Cancer Research Communications 5(6):960-972, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40377974.
Nardo, M, Gouda, MA, Reilley, MJ, Biter, A, Lim, J, Bean, S, Nguyen, LM, Bhosale, PR, Ager, CR, Couillault, CA, Piha-Paul, SA, Fu, S, Tsimberidou, AM, Yap, TA, Naing, A, Rodon Ahnert, J, Subbiah, V, Karp, DD, Curran, M, Hong, DS. Lefitolimod in Combination with Ipilimumab in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors. Journal of Immunotherapy and Precision Oncology 8(2):89-98, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39959251.
DeAzevedo R, Steiner M, Turner BX, Liu A, Newton S, Schmidt J, Fleming R, Tolentino A, Kaseb AO, Curran MA. Type I MET inhibitors cooperate with PD-1 blockade to promote rejection of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 12(10), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39477243.
Du R, Zhang J, Lukas RV, Tripathi S, Ahrendsen JT, Curran MA, Dmello C, Zhang P, Stupp R, Rao G, Heimberger AB. Is modulation of immune checkpoints on glioblastoma-infiltrating myeloid cells a viable therapeutic strategy?. Neuro Oncol 27(1):33-49, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39427326.
LaPelusa M, Chamseddine S, Tran Cao HS, Xiao L, Hasanov E, Bhosale P, Amin HM, Mohamed YI, Gok Yavuz B, Sakr Y, Xu L, Hu I, Lee SS, Sakamuri D, Jindal S, Nguyen V, Curran MA, Sun R, Rashid A, Duda DG, Sharma P, Qayyum A, Kaseb AO. Tissue and Imaging Biomarkers of Response to Neoadjuvant Nivolumab or Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab in Patients with Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Oncology 103(6):1-8, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39427654.
Yim SY, Lee SH, Baek SW, Sohn B, Jeong YS, Kang SH, Park K, Park H, Lee SS, Kaseb AO, Park YN, Leem SH, Curran MA, Kim JH, Lee JS. Genomic biomarkers to predict response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: Insights from the IMbrave150 trial. Clin Mol Hepatol 30(4):807-823, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39038962.
Deng Y, Zhao Z, Sheldon M, Zhao Y, Teng H, Martinez C, Zhang J, Lin C, Sun Y, Yao F, Curran MA, Zhu H, Ma L. LIFR regulates cholesterol-driven bidirectional hepatocyte-neutrophil cross-talk to promote liver regeneration. Nat Metab 6(9):1756-1774, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39147934.
Tang, C, Hartley, G, Couillault, CA, Yuan, Y, Lin, Y, Nicholas, C, Srinivasamani, A, Dai, J, Ileana Dumbrava, EE, Fu, S, Karp, DD, Naing, A, Piha-Paul, SA, Rodon Ahnert, J, Pant, S, Subbiah, V, Yap, T, Tsimberidou, AM, Guerrero, PA, Dhebat, S, Proia, T, Curran, M, Hong, DS. Preclinical study and parallel phase II trial evaluating antisense STAT3 oligonucleotide and checkpoint blockade for advanced pancreatic, non-small cell lung cancer and mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancer. BMJ Oncology 3(1), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39886125.
Najem, H, Lea, ST, Tripathi, S, Hurley, LA, Chen, CH, William, I, Sooreshjani, M, Bowie, M, Hartley, G, Dussold, C, Pacheco, S, Dmello, C, Lee-Chang, C, McCortney, K, Steffens, A, Walshon, J, Ott, M, Wei, J, Marisetty, AL, Balyasnikova, IV, Stupp, R, Lukas, RV, Hu, J, James, CD, Horbinski, C, Lesniak, MS, Ashley, DM, Priebe, W, Platanias, LC, Curran, M, Heimberger, AB. STING agonist 8803 reprograms the immune microenvironment and increases survival in preclinical models of glioblastoma. Journal of Clinical Investigation 134(12), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38941297.
Boda, A, Liu, A, Castro-Pando, S, Whitfield, BT, Molldrem, JJ, Al-Atrash, G, Di Francesco, ME, Jones, PH, Ager, CR, Curran, M. Identification of Nonfunctional Alternatively Spliced Isoforms of STING in Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Research Communications 4(3):911-918, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38477596.
Liu, A, Gammon, ST, Pisaneschi, F, Boda, AR, Ager, CR, Piwnica-Worms, D, Hong, DS, Curran, MA. Hypoxia-activated prodrug and antiangiogenic therapies cooperatively treat pancreatic cancer but elicit immunosuppressive G-MDSC infiltration. JCI Insight 9(1):e169150, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37988164.
Lapelusa, M, Chamseddine, SM, Xiao, L, Hasanov, E, Bhosale, PR, Abugabal, YI, Yavuz, BG, Yadav, SS, Cao, HS, Xu, L, Hu, Z, Lee, SS, Sakamuri, D, Curran, M, Jindal, S, Duda, GD, Sharma, P, Qayyum, A, Kaseb, A. Serologic, radiographic, and tissue-based markers associated with major pathologic response after treatment with neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology 42(3), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
Fan Y, Song S, Li Y, Dhar SS, Jin J, Yoshimura K, Yao X, Wang R, Scott AW, Pool Pizzi M, Wu J, Ma L, Calin GA, Hanash S, Wang L, Curran MA, Ajani JA. Galectin-3 Cooperates with CD47 to Suppress Phagocytosis and T-cell Immunity in Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Metastases. Cancer Res 83(22):3726-3738, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37738407.
Koller P, Baran N, Harutyunyan K, Cavazos A, Mallampati S, Chin RL, Jiang Z, Sun X, Lee HH, Hsu JL, Williams P, Huang X, Curran MA, Hung MC, Konopleva M. PD-1 blockade in combination with dasatinib potentiates induction of anti-acute lymphocytic leukemia immunity. J Immunother Cancer 11(10):e006619, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37793852.
Zhang Y, Zhao Z, Huang LA, Liu Y, Yao J, Sun C, Li Y, Zhang Z, Ye Y, Yuan F, Nguyen TK, Garlapati NR, Wu A, Egranov SD, Caudle AS, Sahin AA, Lim B, Beretta L, Calin GA, Yu D, Hung MC, Curran MA, Rezvani K, Gan B, Tan Z, Han L, Lin C, Yang L. Molecular mechanisms of snoRNA-IL-15 crosstalk in adipocyte lipolysis and NK cell rejuvenation. Cell Metab 35(8):1457-1473.e13, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37329887.
Chen CH, Chin RL, Hartley GP, Lea ST, Engel BJ, Hsieh CE, Prasad R, Roszik J, Shingu T, Lizee GA, Heimberger AB, Millward SW, Hu J, Hong DS, Curran MA. Novel murine glioblastoma models that reflect the immunotherapy resistance profile of a human disease. Neuro Oncol 25(8):1415-1427, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36705543.
Chu Y, Dai E, Li Y, Han G, Pei G, Ingram DR, Thakkar K, Qin JJ, Dang M, Le X, Hu C, Deng Q, Sinjab A, Gupta P, Wang R, Hao D, Peng F, Yan X, Liu Y, Song S, Zhang S, Heymach JV, Reuben A, Elamin YY, Pizzi MP, Lu Y, Lazcano R, Hu J, Li M, Curran MA, Futreal A, Maitra A, Jazaeri AA, Ajani JA, Swanton C, Cheng XD, Abbas HA, Gillison M, Bhat K, Lazar AJ, Green M, Litchfield K, Kadara H, Yee C, Wang L. Pan-cancer T cell atlas links a cellular stress response state to immunotherapy resistance. Nat Med 29(6):1550-1562, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37248301.
Patel SA, Nilsson MB, Yang Y, Le X, Tran HT, Elamin YY, Yu X, Zhang F, Poteete A, Ren X, Shen L, Wang J, Moghaddam SJ, Cascone T, Curran MA, Gibbons DL, Heymach JV. IL6 Mediates Suppression of T- and NK-cell Function in EMT-associated TKI-resistant EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Clin Cancer Res 29(7):1292-1304, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36595561.
Sun C, Ye Y, Tan Z, Liu Y, Li Y, Hu W, Liang K, Egranov SD, Huang LA, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Yao J, Nguyen TK, Zhao Z, Wu A, Marks JR, Caudle AS, Sahin AA, Gao J, Gammon ST, Piwnica-Worms D, Hu J, Chiao PJ, Yu D, Hung MC, Curran MA, Calin GA, Ying H, Han L, Lin C, Yang L. Tumor-associated nonmyelinating Schwann cell-expressed PVT1 promotes pancreatic cancer kynurenine pathway and tumor immune exclusion. Sci Adv 9(5):eadd6995, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36724291.
Zhang Y, Sun C, Li Y, Qin J, Amancherla K, Jing Y, Hu Q, Liang K, Zhang Z, Ye Y, Huang LA, Nguyen TK, Egranov SD, Zhao Z, Wu A, Xi Y, Yao J, Hung MC, Calin GA, Cheng J, Lim B, Lehmann LH, Salem JE, Johnson DB, Curran MA, Yu D, Han L, Darabi R, Yang L, Moslehi JJ, Lin C. Hormonal therapies up-regulate MANF and overcome female susceptibility to immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis. Sci Transl Med 14(669):eabo1981, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36322628.
Grindel BJ, Engel BJ, Ong JN, Srinivasamani A, Liang X, Zacharias NM, Bast RC, Curran MA, Takahashi TT, Roberts RW, Millward SW. Directed Evolution of PD-L1-Targeted Affibodies by mRNA Display. ACS Chem Biol 17(6):1543-1555, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35611948.
Hsieh RC, Krishnan S, Wu RC, Boda AR, Liu A, Winkler M, Hsu WH, Lin SH, Hung MC, Chan LC, Bhanu KR, Srinivasamani A, De Azevedo RA, Chou YC, DePinho RA, Gubin M, Vilar E, Chen CH, Slay R, Jayaprakash P, Hegde SM, Hartley G, Lea ST, Prasad R, Morrow B, Couillault CA, Steiner M, Wang CC, Venkatesulu BP, Taniguchi C, Kim YSB, Chen J, Rudqvist NP, Curran MA. ATR-mediated CD47 and PD-L1 up-regulation restricts radiotherapy-induced immune priming and abscopal responses in colorectal cancer. Sci Immunol 7(72):eabl9330, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35687697.
Wei, J, Song, R, Sabbagh, A, Marisetty, AL, Shukla, N, Fang, D, Najem, H, Ott, M, Long, JP, Zhai, L, Lesniak, MS, James, CD, Platanias, LC, Curran, M, Heimberger, AB. Cell-directed aptamer therapeutic targeting for cancers including those within the central nervous system. OncoImmunology 11(1):2062827, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35433114.
Chen CH, Curran MA. Method of long-term, recurrent, intracerebroventricular infusion of cellular therapy in mice. J Neurosci Methods 371:109529, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35183615.
Sousa LG, Rajapakshe K, Rodriguez Canales J, Chin RL, Feng L, Wang Q, Barrese TZ, Massarelli E, William W, Johnson FM, Ferrarotto R, Wistuba I, Coarfa C, Lee J, Wang J, Melief CJM, Curran MA, Glisson BS. ISA101 and nivolumab for HPV-16 + cancer. J Immunother Cancer 10(2):e004232, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35193933.
Boudreau CE, Najem H, Ott M, Horbinski C, Fang D, DeRay CM, Levine JM, Curran MA, Heimberger AB. Intratumoral Delivery of STING Agonist Results in Clinical Responses in Canine Glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 27(20):5528-5535, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34433652.
Shen R, Postow MA, Adamow M, Arora A, Hannum M, Maher C, Wong P, Curran MA, Hollmann TJ, Jia L, Al-Ahmadie H, Keegan N, Funt SA, Iyer G, Rosenberg JE, Bajorin DF, Chapman PB, Shoushtari AN, Betof AS, Momtaz P, Merghoub T, Wolchok JD, Panageas KS, Callahan MK. LAG-3 expression on peripheral blood cells identifies patients with poorer outcomes after immune checkpoint blockade. Sci Transl Med 13(608):eabf5107, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34433638.
Sabbagh A, Beccaria K, Ling X, Marisetty A, Ott M, Caruso H, Barton E, Kong LY, Fang D, Latha K, Zhang DY, Wei J, DeGroot J, Curran MA, Rao G, Hu J, Desseaux C, Bouchoux G, Canney M, Carpentier A, Heimberger AB. Opening of the blood–brain barrier using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound enhances responses to immunotherapy in preclinical glioma models. Clin Cancer Res 27(15):4325-4337, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34031054.
Ager CR, Boda A, Rajapakshe K, Lea ST, Di Francesco ME, Jayaprakash P, Slay RB, Morrow B, Prasad R, Dean MA, Duffy CR, Coarfa C, Jones P, Curran MA. High potency STING agonists engage unique myeloid pathways to reverse pancreatic cancer immune privilege. J Immunother Cancer 9(8):e003246, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34341132.
Hegde A, Jayaprakash P, Couillault CA, Piha-Paul S, Karp D, Rodon J, Pant S, Fu S, Dumbrava EE, Yap TA, Subbiah V, Bhosale P, Coarfa C, Higgins JP, Williams ET, Wilson TF, Lim J, Meric-Bernstam F, Sumner E, Zain H, Nguyen D, Nguyen LM, Rajapakshe K, Curran MA, Hong DS. A Phase I dose-escalation study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of evofosfamide in combination with ipilimumab in advanced solid malignancies. Clin Cancer Res 27(11):3050-3060, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33771853.
Yap TA, Parkes EE, Peng W, Moyers JT, Curran MA, Tawbi HA. Development of immunotherapy combination strategies in cancer. Cancer Discov 11(6):1368-1397, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33811048.
de Azevedo RA, Shoshan E, Whang S, Markel G, Jaiswal AR, Liu A, Curran MA, Travassos LR, Bar-Eli M. MIF inhibition as a strategy for overcoming resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in melanoma. Oncoimmunology 9(1):1846915, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33344042.
Jaiswal AR, Liu AJ, Pudakalakatti S, Dutta P, Jayaprakash P, Bartkowiak T, Ager CR, Wang ZQ, Reuben A, Cooper ZA, Ivan C, Ju Z, Nwajei F, Wang J, Davies MA, Davis RE, Wargo JA, Bhattacharya PK, Hong DS, Curran MA. Melanoma Evolves Complete Immunotherapy Resistance through the Acquisition of a Hypermetabolic Phenotype. Cancer Immunol Res. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32917656.
Ott M, Tomaszowski KH, Marisetty A, Kong LY, Wei J, Duna M, Blumberg K, Ji X, Jacobs CB, Fuller GN, Langford LA, Huse JT, Long JP, Hu J, Li S, Weinberg JS, Prabhu S, Sawaya R, Ferguson SD, Rao G, Lang FF, Curran MA, Heimberger AB. Glioma patient profiling reveals the dominant immune suppressive adenosine axis is refractory to immune function restoration. JCI Insight. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32721947.
Kamalinia G, Engel BJ, Srinivasamani A, Grindel BJ, Ong JN, Curran MA, Takahashi TT, Millward SW, Roberts RW. mRNA Display Discovery of a Novel Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Binding Peptide (a Peptide Ligand for PD-L1). ACS Chem Biol 15(6):1630-1641, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32352272.
Rao G, Latha K, Ott M, Sabbagh A, Marisetty A, Ling X, Zamler DB, Doucette T, Yang Y, Kong LY, Wei J, Fuller GN, Benavides F, Sonabend AM, Long JP, Li S, Curran MA, Heimberger AB. Anti-PD-1 induces M1 polarization in the glioma microenvironment and exerts therapeutic efficacy in the absence of CD8 cytotoxic T cells. Clin Cancer Res. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32554515.
Wei J, Chen P, Gupta P, Ott M, Zamler D, Kassab C, Bhat KP, Curran MA, de Groot JF, Heimberger AB. Immune biology of glioma associated macrophages and microglia: Functional and therapeutic implications. Neuro Oncol 22(2):180-194, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31679017.
Reilley MJ, Morrow B, Ager CR, Liu A, Hong DS, Curran MA. TLR9 activation cooperates with T cell checkpoint blockade to regress poorly immunogenic melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 7(1):323, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31771649.
Ager CR, Zhang H, Wei Z, Jones P, Curran MA, Di Francesco ME. Discovery of IACS-8803 and IACS-8779, potent agonists of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) with robust systemic antitumor efficacy. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 29(20):126640, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31500996.
Dorta-Estremera S, Hegde VL, Slay RB, Sun R, Yanamandra AV, Nicholas C, Nookala S, Sierra G, Curran MA, Sastry KJ. Targeting interferon signaling and CTLA-4 enhance the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in preclinical model of HPV+ oral cancer. J Immunother Cancer 7(1):252, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31533840.
Hu Q, Ye Y, Chan LC, Li Y, Liang K, Lin A, Egranov SD, Zhang Y, Xia W, Gong J, Pan Y, Chatterjee SS, Yao J, Evans KW, Nguyen TK, Park PK, Liu J, Coarfa C, Donepudi SR, Putluri V, Putluri N, Sreekumar A, Ambati CR, Hawke DH, Marks JR, Gunaratne PH, Caudle AS, Sahin AA, Hortobagyi GN, Meric-Bernstam F, Chen L, Yu D, Hung MC, Curran MA, Han L, Lin C, Yang L. Oncogenic LncRNA downregulates cancer cell antigen presentation and intrinsic tumor suppression. Nat Immunol 20(7):835-851, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31160797.
Massarelli E, William W, Johnson F, Kies M, Ferrarotto R, Guo M, Feng L, Lee JJ, Tran H, Kim YU, Haymaker C, Bernatchez C, Curran MA, Zecchini Barrese T, Rodriguez Canales J, Wistuba I, Li L, Wang J, van der Burg SH, Melief CJ, Glisson B. Combining immune checkpoint blockade and tumor-specific vaccine for patients with incurable human papillomavirus 16-related cancer: a phase 2 clinical trial. JAMA Oncol, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30267032.
Curran MA, Glisson BS. New hope for therapeutic cancer vaccines in the era of immune checkpoint modulation. Annu Rev Med 70:409-424, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30379596.
Kapp K, Volz B, Curran MA, Oswald D, Wittig B, Schmidt M. EnanDIM - a novel family of L-nucleotide-protected TLR9 agonists for cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 7(1):5, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30621769.
Jayaprakash P, Ai M, Liu A, Budhani P, Bartkowiak T, Sheng J, Ager C, Nicholas C, Jaiswal AR, Sun Y, Shah K, Balasubramanyam S, Li N, Wang G, Ning J, Zal A, Zal T, Curran MA. Targeted hypoxia reduction restores T cell infiltration and sensitizes prostate cancer to immunotherapy. J Clin Invest 128(11):5137-5149, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30188869.
Reilley MJ, McCoon P, Cook C, Lyne P, Kurzrock R, Kim Y, Woessner R, Younes A, Nemunaitis J, Fowler N, Curran MA, Liu Q, Zhou T, Schmidt J, Jo M, Lee SJ, Yamashita M, Hughes SG, Fayad L, Piha-Paul S, Nadella MVP, Xiao X, Hsu J, Revenko A, Monia BP, MacLeod AR, Hong DS. STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide AZD9150 in a subset of patients with heavily pretreated lymphoma: results of a phase 1b trial. J Immunother Cancer 6(1):119, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30446007.
Zhou L, Husted H, Moore T, Lu M, Deng D, Liu Y, Ramachandran V, Arumugam T, Niehrs C, Wang H, Chiao P, Ling J, Curran MA, Maitra A, Hung MC, Lee JE, Logsdon CD, Hwang RF. Suppression of stromal-derived Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) inhibits tumor progression and prolongs survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Sci Transl Med 10(464), 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30355799.
Dorta-Estremera S, Chin RL, Sierra G, Nicholas C, Yanamandra AV, Nookala SMK, Yang G, Singh S, Curran MA, Sastry KJ. Mucosal HPV E6/E7 peptide vaccination in combination with immune checkpoint modulation induces regression of HPV+ oral cancers. Cancer Res 78(18):5327-5339, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30054333.
Jamieson SM, Tsai P, Kondratyev MK, Budhani P, Liu A, Senzer NN, Chiorean EG, Jalal SI, Nemunaitis JJ, Kee D, Shome A, Wong WW, Li D, Poonawala-Lohani N, Kakadia PM, Knowlton NS, Lynch CR, Hong CR, Lee TW, Grénman RA, Caporiccio L, McKee TD, Zaidi M, Butt S, Macann AM, McIvor NP, Chaplin JM, Hicks KO, Bohlander SK, Wouters BG, Hart CP, Print CG, Wilson WR, Curran MA, Hunter FW. Evofosfamide for the treatment of human papillomavirus-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. JCI Insight 3(16), 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30135316.
Buchan SL, Fallatah M, Thirdborough SM, Taraban VY, Rogel A, Thomas LJ, Penfold CA, He LZ, Curran MA, Keler T, Al-Shamkhani A. PD-1 blockade and CD27 stimulation activate distinct transcriptional programs that synergize for CD8+ T-cell driven anti-tumor immunity. Clin Cancer Res 24(10):2383-2394, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29514845.
Bartkowiak T, Jaiswal AR, Ager CR, Chin R, Chen CH, Budhani P, Ai M, Reilley MJ, Sebastian MM, Hong DS, Curran MA. Activation of 4-1BB on liver myeloid cells triggers hepatitis via an interleukin-27-dependent pathway. Clin Cancer Res 24(5):1138-1151, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29301830.
Curran MA. Preclinical data supporting antitumor activity of PD-1 blockade. Cancer J 24(1):2-6, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29360721.
Singh M, Vianden C, Cantwell MJ, Dai Z, Xiao Z, Sharma M, Khong H, Jaiswal AR, Faak F, Hailemichael Y, Janssen LME, Bharadwaj U, Curran MA, Diab A, Bassett RL, Tweardy DJ, Hwu P, Overwijk WW. Intratumoral CD40 activation and checkpoint blockade induces T cell-mediated eradication of melanoma in the brain. Nat Commun 8(1):1447, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29129918.
Ager CR, Reilley MJ, Nicholas C, Bartkowiak T, Jaiswal AR, Curran MA. Intratumoral STING activation with T-cell checkpoint modulation generates systemic antitumor immunity. Cancer Immunol Res 5(8):676-684, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28674082.
Tang C, Welsh JW, de Groot P, Massarelli E, Chang JY, Hess KR, Basu S, Curran MA, Cabanillas ME, Subbiah V, Fu S, Tsimberidou AM, Karp D, Gomez DR, Diab A, Komaki R, Heymach JV, Sharma P, Naing A, Hong DS. Ipilimumab with stereotactic ablative radiation therapy: phase I results and immunologic correlates from peripheral T cells. Clin Cancer Res 23(6):1388-1396, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27649551.
Gabrusiewicz K, Rodriguez B, Wei J, Hashimoto Y, Healy LM, Maiti SN, Thomas G, Zhou S, Wang Q, Elakkad A, Liebelt BD, Yaghi NK, Ezhilarasan R, Huang N, Weinberg JS, Prabhu SS, Rao G, Sawaya R, Langford LA, Bruner JM, Fuller GN, Bar-Or A, Li W, Colen RR, Curran MA, Bhat KP, Antel JP, Cooper LJ, Sulman EP, Heimberger AB. Glioblastoma-infiltrated innate immune cells resemble M0 macrophage phenotype. JCI Insight 1(2), 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26973881.
Bartkowiak T, Singh S, Yang G, Galvan G, Haria D, Ai M, Allison JP, Sastry KJ, Curran MA. Unique potential of 4-1BB agonist antibody to promote durable regression of HPV+ tumors when combined with an E6/E7 peptide vaccine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112(38):E5290-9, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26351680.
Curran MA, Geiger TL, Montalvo W, Kim M, Reiner SL, Al-Shamkhani A, Sun JC, Allison JP. Systemic 4-1BB activation induces a novel T cell phenotype driven by high expression of eomesodermin. J Exp Med 210(4):743-55, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23547098.
Mineharu Y, Muhammad AK, Yagiz K, Candolfi M, Kroeger KM, Xiong W, Puntel M, Liu C, Levy E, Lugo C, Kocharian A, Allison JP, Curran MA, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. Gene therapy-mediated reprogramming tumor infiltrating T cells using IL-2 and inhibiting NF-κB signaling improves the efficacy of immunotherapy in a brain cancer model. Neurotherapeutics 9(4):827-43, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22996231.
Jenq RR, Curran MA, Goldberg GL, Liu C, Allison JP, van den Brink MR. Repertoire enhancement with adoptively transferred female lymphocytes controls the growth of pre-implanted murine prostate cancer. PLoS One 7(4):e35222, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22493742.
Curran MA, Kim M, Montalvo W, Al-Shamkhani A, Allison JP. Combination CTLA-4 blockade and 4-1BB activation enhances tumor rejection by increasing T-cell infiltration, proliferation, and cytokine production. PLoS One 6(4):e19499, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21559358.
Curran MA, Montalvo W, Yagita H, Allison JP. PD-1 and CTLA-4 combination blockade expands infiltrating T cells and reduces regulatory T and myeloid cells within B16 melanoma tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(9):4275-80, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20160101.
Curran MA, Allison JP. Tumor vaccines expressing flt3 ligand synergize with ctla-4 blockade to reject preimplanted tumors. Cancer Res 69(19):7747-55, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19738077.
Fenjves ES, Ochoa MS, Cechin S, Gay-Rabinstein C, Pérez-Alvarez I, Ichii H, Mendez A, Ricordi C, Curran MA. Protection of human pancreatic islets using a lentiviral vector expressing two genes: cFLIP and GFP. Cell Transplant 17(7):793-802, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 19044206.
Quezada SA, Peggs KS, Curran MA, Allison JP. CTLA4 blockade and GM-CSF combination immunotherapy alters the intratumor balance of effector and regulatory T cells. J Clin Invest 116(7):1935-45, 2006. e-Pub 2006. PMID: 16778987.
Shai E, Palmon A, Panet A, Marmary Y, Sherman Y, Curran MA, Galun E, Condiotti R. Prolonged transgene expression in murine salivary glands following non-primate lentiviral vector transduction. Mol Ther 12(1):137-43, 2005. e-Pub 2005. PMID: 15963929.
Condiotti R, Curran MA, Nolan GP, Giladi H, Ketzinel-Gilad M, Gross E, Galun E. Prolonged liver-specific transgene expression by a non-primate lentiviral vector. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 320(3):998-1006, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15240147.
Fenjves ES, Ochoa MS, Gay-Rabinstein C, Ricordi C, Curran MA. Retrovirally transferred genes inhibit apoptosis in an insulin-secreting cell line: implications for islet transplantation. Cell Transplant 13(5):489-96, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15565861.
Price MA, Case SS, Carbonaro DA, Yu XJ, Petersen D, Sabo KM, Curran MA, Engel BC, Margarian H, Abkowitz JL, Nolan GP, Kohn DB, Crooks GM. Expression from second-generation feline immunodeficiency virus vectors is impaired in human hematopoietic cells. Mol Ther 6(5):645-52, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12409263.
Curran MA, Ochoa MS, Molano RD, Pileggi A, Inverardi L, Kenyon NS, Nolan GP, Ricordi C, Fenjves ES. Efficient transduction of pancreatic islets by feline immunodeficiency virus vectors. Transplantation 74(3):299-306, 2002. e-Pub 2002. PMID: 12177606.
Curran MA, Kaiser SM, Achacoso PL, Nolan GP. Efficient transduction of nondividing cells by optimized feline immunodeficiency virus vectors. Mol Ther 1(1):31-8, 2000. e-Pub 2000. PMID: 10933909.

Invited Articles

Ai M, Curran MA. Immune checkpoint combinations from mouse to man. Cancer Immunol Immunother 64(7):885-92, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25555570.
Bartkowiak T, Curran MA. 4-1BB agonists: multi-potent potentiators of tumor immunity. Front Oncol 5:117, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26106583.
Curran MA, Callahan MK, Subudhi SK, Allison JP. Response to "Ipilimumab (Yervoy) and the TGN1412 catastrophe". Immunobiology 217(6):590-2, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22459268.

Review Articles

Sheikh, A, Curran, M. The influence of the microbiome on radiotherapy and DNA damage responses. Frontiers in Oncology 15, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40165887.
Sheikh, A, Curran, M. The influence of the microbiome on radiotherapy and DNA damage responses. Frontiers in Oncology 15, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40165887.
Son J, Hsieh RC, Lin HY, Krause KJ, Yuan Y, Biter AB, Welsh J, Curran MA, Hong DS. Inhibition of the CD47-SIRPα axis for cancer therapy. Front Immunol 13:1027235, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36439116.
Tripathi S, Najem H, Mahajan AS, Zhang P, Low JT, Stegh AH, Curran MA, Ashley DM, James CD, Heimberger AB. cGAS-STING pathway targeted therapies and their applications in the treatment of high-grade glioma. F1000Res 11:1010, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36324813.
Jayaprakash P, Vignali PDA, Delgoffe GM, Curran MA. Hypoxia Reduction Sensitizes Refractory Cancers to Immunotherapy. Annu Rev Med 73:251-265, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34699264.
Gok Yavuz B, Hasanov E, Lee SS, Mohamed YI, Curran MA, Koay EJ, Cristini V, Kaseb AO. Current Landscape and Future Directions of Biomarkers for Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 8:1195-1207, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34595140.
Liu A, Curran MA. Tumor hypermetabolism confers resistance to immunotherapy. Semin Cancer Biol. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 31982512.
Chouaib S, Noman MZ, Kosmatopoulos K, Curran MA. Hypoxic stress: obstacles and opportunities for innovative immunotherapy of cancer. Oncogene 36(4):439-445, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 27345407.
Fowler NH, Cheah CY, Gascoyne RD, Gribben J, Neelapu SS, Ghia P, Bollard C, Ansell S, Curran MA, Wilson WH, O'Brien S, Grant C, Little R, Zenz T, Nastoupil LJ, Dunleavy K. Role of the tumor microenvironment in mature B-cell lymphoid malignancies. Haematologica 101(5):531-40, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27132279.

Editorials

de Gruijl, T, Sautès-Fridman, C, Thommen, DS, Curran, M. Voices. Cell Reports Medicine 6(11), 2025. PMID: 41260203.
Curran MA, Fox BA, Redmond WL. Editorial: advances in combination tumor immunotherapy. Front Oncol 5:198, 2015. PMID: 26442210.

Abstracts

Callahan MK, Horak CE, Curran MA, Hollman T, Schaer DA, Yuan J, Lesokhin AM, Kitano S, Hong Q, Ariyan CE, Busam KJ, Feely W, Jure-Kunkel M, Grosso J, Simon JS, Korman AJ, Wigginton JM, Gupta AK, Zhang X, Phillips T, Simmons P, Sznol M, Wolchok JD. Peripheral blood and tumor biomarkers in patients with advanced melanoma treated with combination nivolumab (anti-PD-1, BMS-936558, ONO-4538) and ipilimumab. 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (Abstr #004). e-Pub 2013.

Book Chapters

Wolkowicz R, Nolan GP, Curran MA. Lentiviral vectors for the delivery of DNA into mammalian cells. In: Methods Mol Biol. Humana Press, 391-411, 2004.
Curran MA, Nolan GP. Non-primate lentiviral vectors. In: Lentiviral Vectors. Preinger-Verlag, 75-101, 2002.
Curran MA, Nolan GP. Recombinant feline immunodeficiency virus vectors: preparation and use. In: Methods Mol Med. Humana Press, 335-50, 2002.

Patents

Curran, al MA. CHIMERIC SCAVENGER RECEPTORS TARGETED TO PHOSPHORYLATED TAU (PTAU) AND USES THEREOF. Patent Number: US20230109553.
Forget M, Bernatchez C, Haymaker C, Curran MA, Hwu AP. METHODS FOR EXPANSION OF TUMOR INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES AND USE THEREOF. Patent Number: US20230106973.
Curran MA, De Francesco M, Jones P. Cyclic Dinucleotides as Agonists of Stimulator of Interferon Gene Dependent Signaling. Patent Number: US20210236531.
Curran, al MA. HUMAN 4-1BB AGONIST ANTIBODIES AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF. Patent Number: US20230092390.
Priebe W, Zielinski R, Curran MA, Ai M. COMBINATIONS OF TRANSCRIPTION INHIBITORS AND IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS FOR TREATMENT OF DISEASE. Patent Number: US20220175744.
Allison JP, Curran MA. Methods and Composition for Localized Secretion of Anti-CTLA-4 Antibodies. Patent Number: US 9,868,961 B2.

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CV information above last modified September 16, 2026

Michael A. Curran, Ph.D.

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Michael A. Curran, Ph.D.

About Dr. Michael A. Curran

Present Title & Affiliation

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

Postgraduate Training

Experience & Service

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Other Professional Positions

Extramural Institutional Committee Activities

Editorial Activities

Honors & Awards

Professional Memberships

Selected Presentations & Talks

Local Presentations

Regional Presentations

National Presentations

International Presentations

Formal Peers

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Invited Articles

Review Articles

Other Articles

Editorials

Abstracts

Book Chapters

Patents

Patient Reviews

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Related Links

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Departments and Divisions

Labs

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