Yared Hailemichael, Ph.D.
Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Yared Hailemichael
Yared Hailemichael, PhD is an Assistant Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He and his colleagues have made seminal contributions to cancer immunology in defining the regulation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cell tumor localization and tumor killing. He is continuing to work toward understanding and manipulating the anti-cancer immune response (Hailemichael et al., Nat Med. 2013 Apr 19; (4):465-72), an approach that is finally delivering real therapeutic benefit to patients with cancer. His recent work showed the key immunological mechanism that control cancer vaccine formulation synergy with CTLA-4, PD-(L)1 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Despite the immense promise of ICB therapy for cancer, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are major limitations. Currently, he is investigating the specific cellular and molecular mechanism of these immune toxicities with implications not only for care of patients with cancer receiving ICB but may also provide critical insights into autoimmune disease. Dr. Hailemichael is a member of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT).
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1998 | Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, PHD, Entomology |
| 1992 | Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, MS, Entomology |
| 1988 | Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ETH, BS, Biology/Chemistry |
Postgraduate Training
| 2010-2013 | Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Instructor, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2013 - 2018
Consultantships
Consultant, 7Hills Pharma, Houston, TX, 2015 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2014 | Travel Grant Award, SITC, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), National Harbor, MD |
| 2013 | Travel Grant Award, CIMT, Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT), Mainz, Germany |
| 2013 | The Ben F. Love Fellowship Award, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Hickman A, Koetsier J, Kurtanich T, Nielsen MC, Winn G, Wang Y, Bentebibel SE, Shi L, Punt S, Williams L, Haymaker C, Chesson CB, Fa'ak F, Dominguez AL, Jones R, Kuiatse I, Caivano AR, Khounlo S, Warier ND, Marathi U, Market RV, Biediger RJ, Craft JW, Hwu P, Davies MA, Woodside DG, Vanderslice P, Diab A, Overwijk WW, Hailemichael, Y. LFA-1 activation enhances CD8+ T cell intratumoral sequestration and synergizes with CTLA-4 blockade in cold tumor model. J Clin Invest 132(13), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35552271.
- Hailemichael, Y, Johnson DH, Abdel-Wahab N, Foo WC, Bentebibel SE, Daher M, Haymaker C, Wani K, Saberian C, Ogata D, Kim ST, Nurieva R, Lazar AJ, Abu-Sbeih H, Fa'ak F, Mathew A, Wang Y, Falohun A, Trinh V, Zobniw C, Spillson C, Burks JK, Awiwi M, Elsayes K, Soto LS, Melendez BD, Davies MA, Wargo J, Curry J, Yee C, Lizee G, Singh S, Sharma P, Allison JP, Hwu P, Ekmekcioglu S, Diab A. Interleukin-6 blockade abrogates immunotherapy toxicity and promotes tumor immunity. Cancer Cell 40(5):509-523, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35537412.
- Varghese S, Pramanik S, Williams LJ, Hodges HR, Hudgens CW, Fischer GM, Luo CK, Knighton B, Tan L, Lorenzi PL, Mackinnon AL, McQuade JL, Hailemichael, Y, Roszik J, Peng W, Vashisht Gopal YN. The glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 (Telaglenastat) enhances the anti-melanoma activity of T cell mediated immunotherapies. Mol Cancer Ther 20(3):500-511, 2021. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33361272.
- Meenu Sharma, Hiep Khong, Faisal Fa'ak, Salah Eddine Bentebibel, Louise Janssen, Charles Chesson, Caitlin Creasy, Marie-Andrée Forget, Laura Kahn, Barbara Pazdrak, Binisha Karki, Hailemichael, Y, Manisha Singh, Christina Klausen, Srinivas Vennam, Uddalak Bharadwaj, David Tweardy, Cara Haymaker, Chantale Bernatchez, Shixia Huang, Kimal Rajapakshe, Cristian Coarfa, Michael Hurwitz, Mario Sznol, Patrick Hwu, Ute Hoch, Murali Addepalli, Deborah Charych, Jonathan Zalevsky, Adi Diab, and Willem Overwijk. Engineered interleukin-2, NKTR-214, selectively depletes intratumoral Tregs and potentiates T cell-mediated cancer therapy. Nat Commun, 2020.
- Sharma M, Khong H, Fa'ak F, Bentebibel SE, Janssen LME, Chesson BC, Creasy CA, Forget MA, Kahn LMS, Pazdrak B, Karki B, Hailemichael, Y, Singh M, Vianden C, Vennam S, Bharadwaj U, Tweardy DJ, Haymaker C, Bernatchez C, Huang S, Rajapakshe K, Coarfa C, Hurwitz ME, Sznol M, Hwu P, Hoch U, Addepalli M, Charych DH, Zalevsky J, Diab A, Overwijk WW. Bempegaldesleukin selectively depletes intratumoral Tregs and potentiates T cell-mediated cancer therapy. Nat Commun 11(1):661, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32005826.
- Zhang X, Lee HC, Shirazi F, Baladandayuthapani V, Lin H, Kuiatse I, Wang H, Jones RJ, Berkova Z, Singh RK, Lu J, Qian Y, Raina K, Coleman KG, Crews CM, Li B, Wang H, Hailemichael, Y, Thomas SK, Wang Z, Davis RE, Orlowski RZ. Protein Targeting Chimeric Molecules Specific for Bromodomain and Extra-terminal Motif Family Proteins are Active Against Pre-Clinical Models of Multiple Myeloma. Leukemia 32(10):2224-2239, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29581547.
- Khong H, Volmari A, Sharma M, Dai Z, Imo CS, Hailemichael, Y, Singh M, Moore DT, Xiao Z, Huang XF, Horvath TD, Hawke DH, Overwijk WW. Peptide vaccine formulation controls the duration of antigen presentation and magnitude of tumor-specific CD8+ T cell response. J Immunol 200(10):3464-3474, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29643190.
- Hailemichael, Y, Woods A, Fu T, He Q, Nielsen MC, Hasan F, Roszik J, Xiao Z, Vianden C, Khong H, Singh M, Sharma M, Faak F, Moore D, Dai Z, Anthony SM, Schluns KS, Sharma P, Engelhard VH, Overwijk WW. Cancer vaccine formulation dictates synergy with CTLA-4 and PD-L1 checkpoint blockade therapy. J Clin Invest 128(4):1338-1354, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29480817.
- Haymaker CL, Hailemichael, Y*, Yang Y, Nurieva R (*Co-first Author). In Vivo Assay for Detection of Antigen-Specific T-cell Cytolytic Function using a Vaccination Model. J Vis Exp 129(e56255), 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29286361.
- 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.
- Ritthipichai K, Haymaker CL, Martinez M, Aschenbrenner A, Yi X, Zhang M, Kale C, Vence LM, Roszik J, Hailemichael, Y, Overwijk WW, Varadarajan N, Nurieva R, Radvanyi LG, Hwu P, Bernatchez C. Multifaceted role of BTLA in the control of CD8+ T cell fate after antigen encounter. Clin Cancer Res 23(20):6151-6164, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28754817.
- Dalton H, Pradeep S, McGuire M, Hailemichael, Y, Shaolin MA, Lyons Y, Armaiz-Pena G, Previs RA, Hansen J, Rupaimoole R, Gonzalez-Villasana V, Cho MS, Wu S, Mangala L, Jennings N, Hu W, Langley R, Mu H, Andreeff M, Bar-Eli M, Overwijk W, Ram P, Lopez-Berestein G, Coleman R and Sood A. Macrophages facilitate resistance to anti-VEGF therapy by altered VEGFR expression. Clinical Cancer Research 23(22), 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28855350.
- Haymaker C, Yang Y, Wang J, Zou Q, Sahoo A, Alekseev A, Singh D, Ritthipichai K, Hailemichael, Y, Hoang ON, Qin H, Schluns KS, Wang T, Overwijk WW, Sun SC, Bernatchez C, Kwak LW, Neelapu SS, Nurieva R. Absence of Grail promotes CD8(+) T cell anti-tumour activity. Nat Commun 8(1):239, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28798332.
- Anthony SM, Howard ME, Hailemichael, Y, Overwijk WW, Schluns KS. Soluble interleukin-15 complexes are generated in vivo by type I interferon dependent and independent pathways. PLoS One 10(3):e0120274, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25756182.
- Qin H, Lerman B, Sakamaki I, Wei G, Cha SC, Rao SS, Qian J, Hailemichael, Y, Nurieva R, Dwyer KC, Roth J, Yi Q, Overwijk WW, Kwak LW. Generation of a new therapeutic peptide that depletes myeloid-derived suppressor cells in tumor-bearing mice. Nat Med 20(6):676-81, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24859530.
- Hailemichael, Y, Dai Z, Jaffarzad N, Ye Y, Medina MA, Huang XF, Dorta-Estremera SM, Greeley NR, Nitti G, Peng W, Liu C, Lou Y, Wang Z, Ma W, Rabinovich B, Sowell RT, Schluns KS, Davis RE, Hwu P, Overwijk WW. Persistent antigen at vaccination sites induces tumor-specific CD8 T cell sequestration, dysfunction and deletion. Nat Med 19(4):465-72, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23455713.
- Jayaraman P, Parikh F, Lopez-Rivera E, Hailemichael, Y, Clark A, Ma G, Cannan D, Ramacher M, Kato M, Overwijk WW, Chen SH, Umansky VY, Sikora AG. Tumor-expressed inducible nitric oxide synthase controls induction of functional myeloid-derived suppressor cells through modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor release. J Immunol 188(11):5365-76, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22529296.
- Sikora AG, Hailemichael, Y, Overwijk WW. Conference scene: immune effector mechanisms in tumor immunity. Immunotherapy 4(2):141-3, 2012. PMID: 22339456.
- Lou Y, Liu C, Lizée G, Peng W, Xu C, Ye Y, Rabinovich BA,Hailemichael, Y, Gelbard A, Zhou D, Overwijk WW, Hwu P. Antitumor activity mediated by CpG: the route of administration is critical. J Immunother 34(3):279-88, 2011. PMID: 21389870.
- Kong LY, Gelbard A, Wei J, Reina-Ortiz C, Wang Y, Yang EC, Hailemichael, Y, Fokt I, Jayakumar A, Qiao W, Fuller GN, Overwijk WW, Priebe W, Heimberger AB. Inhibition of p-STAT3 enhances IFN-alpha efficacy against metastatic melanoma in a murine model. Clin Cancer Res 16(9):2550-61, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20388845.
- Sikora AG, Gelbard A, Davies MA, Sano D, Ekmekcioglu S, Kwon J, Hailemichael, Y, Jayaraman P, Myers JN, Grimm EA, Overwijk WW. Targeted inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibits growth of human melanoma in vivo and synergizes with chemotherapy. Clinical Cancer Research 16(6):1834-44, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20215556.
- Sikora AG, Gelbard A, Davies MA, Sano D, Ekmekcioglu S, Kwon J, Hailemichael, Y, Jayaraman P, Myers JN, Grimm EA, Overwijk WW.. Targeted inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibits growth of human melanoma in vivo and synergizes with chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 16(6):1834-1844, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20215556.
- Hailemichael, Y, Schulthess F Smith JW, Overholt WA. Physiological suitability of six West African gramineous borers (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Pyralidae) for development of Cotesia species complex (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 29(3):130-140, 2009.
- Sikora AG, Jaffarzad N, Hailemichael, Y, Gelbard A, Stonier SW, Schluns KS, Frasca L, Lou Y, Liu C, Andersson HA, Hwu P, Overwijk WW. IFN-alpha enhances peptide vaccine-induced CD8+ T cell numbers, effector function, and antitumor activity. J Immunolgy 182(12):7398-407, 2009. PMID: 19494262.
- Hailemichael, Y, Schulthess F Smith JW, Overholt WA and Chabi-Olaye A. Resource allocation and bionomics of indigenous and exotic Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) species reared on Sesamia calamistis. Bulletin of Entomological Research 98(4):405-415, 2008.
- Hailemichael, Y, Schulthess F Smith JW, Overholt WA. Suitability of West African Gramineous Stemborers for the Development of Cotesia Species. Insect Science Application 17(1):89-95, 1997.
- Hailemichael, Y, and Smith JW. Development and Longevity of Xanthopimpla stemmator (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) at Constant Temperatures. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 87(6):874-878, 1994.
- Hailemichael, Y, Smith JW and RN Wiedenmann. Host‐finding behavior, host acceptance, and host suitability of the parasite Xanthopimpla stemmator. Entomologia Expermentalis et Applicata 71(2):155-166, 1994.
Invited Articles
- Hailemichael, Y, Overwijk WW. Peptide-based anticancer vaccines: The making and unmaking of a T-cell graveyard. Oncoimmunology 2(7):e24743, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24073366.
Abstracts
- Yared Hailemichael, Glenn Winn, and Michael Davies. Regulating negative immune regulators to enhance immune checkpoint blockade antitumor potential. J Immunother Cancer, 2022.
- Hailemichael, Y, Fu T, Woods A, Roszik J, Schluns KS, Engelhard VE, Sharma P, Overwijk WW. Cancer vaccine formulation dictates synergy with CTLA-4 and PD-L1 checkpoint blockade therapy. e-Pub 2017.
- Hailemichael, Y, Nielssen M, Faak F, Vanderslice P, Woodside DG, Market RV, Biediger RJ, Marathi UK, Overwijk WW. Integrin activator 7HP349 enhances anti-CTLA-4 antibody-based cancer therapy. JITC, 2016.
- Hailemichael, Y, Fu T, Woods A, Roszik J, Schluns KS, Engelhard VE, Sharma P, Overwijk WW. Effect of cancer vaccine formulation on synergy with anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-L1 checkpoint blockade therapy of cancer. JCO, 2016.
- Hailemichael, Y, Overwijk W. Peptide vaccines enhance checkpoint anti-melanoma therapeutic efficacy, 2015.
- Hailemichael, Y. Peptide/IFA emulsions limit tumor-specific CD8+ T cells tumor trafficking. Journal of vaccines and vaccination, 2013.
- Hailemichael, Y, Dai Z, Jaffarzad N, Ye Y, Medina MA, Huang X. et al. Persistent antigen at vaccination sites are graveyards for antigen specific CD8+ T cells, 2013.
- Hailemichael, Y, Dai Z, Jaffarzad N, Ye Y, Medina MA, Huang X. et al.. Persistent antigen at vaccination sites are graveyards for antigen specific CD8+ T cells, 2012.
Book Chapters
- Ya Z, Hailemichael, Y, Overwijk W, Restifo NP. Mouse Model for Pre-clinical Study of Human Cancer Immunotherapy. In: Curr Protoc Immunol. 20.1, 1-20.1.42, 2015.
Letters to the Editor
- Hailemichael, Y, Singh M, Overwijk W. Vaccinating with stem cells to stop cancer. Trends Mol Med 24: 524-526, 2018.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Efficacy of Integrin Ligand Mimetic (ILM) Effect on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors And Adoptive Therapy |
| Funding Source: | 7 Hills Pharmaceuticals |
| Role: | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Development of a small molecule activator of integrin cell adhesion to enhance therapeutic responses to checkpoint blockade in cancer (phase I) |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Development of a small molecule activator of integrin cell adhesion to enhance therapeutic responses to checkpoint blockade in cancer (phase II) |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Visualizing T-cell Trafficking |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | IL-6 blockade to decouple checkpoint blockade cancer immunity from toxicity |
| Funding Source: | UTMDACC SPORE in Melanoma / Developmental Research Program |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Manipulating the IL-6/IL-1bTNF-a /Tc17 axis as a strategy to overcome immune checkpoint blockade-induced resistance to immunotherapy |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson Cancer Center - Internal Grant Funding |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Development of Therapeutic Strategies for Decoupling Autoimmunity from Antitumor Immunity in Melanoma Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Enhancer editing to improve adoptive T cell therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Epigenetic editing to improve cell therapy for melanoma |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense (DOD) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified June 10, 2024