Pradeep Shrestha
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatrics
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Instructor, Department of Pediatrics - Research, Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2020 | University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, US, Microbiology and Immunology, PhD |
| 2017 | University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, US, Microbiology and Immunology, MS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2020-2025 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Cancer immunotherapy, Osteosarcoma lung metastasis, Epigenetic modulation, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
Experience & Service
Editorial Activities
Review Editor, Biomolecules (MDPI)
Review Editor, Cells (MDPI)
Review Editor, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (MDPI)
Review Editor, Frontiers in Immunology
Reviewer, Advanced Sciences
Honors & Awards
| 2021 | Odyssey Fellowship, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2020 | Department of Microbiology & Immunology Chairman’s Citation |
| 2020 | Graduate Dean’s Citation Award |
| 2018 - 2022 | Travel award, MIB Agents |
| 2018 - 2020 | CPRIT TRIUMPH Postdoctoral fellowship |
| 2016 - 2018 | Travel award, AAI |
| 2015 - 2017 | IPIBS Graduate Fellowship, University of Louisville |
| 2014 | Korean Government Scholarship Program |
| 2012 - 2013 | Dissertation Grant, University Grant Commissions, Bhaktapur, Nepal |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
International Presentations
- 2024. Activation of immune response with beta-glucan and CD40 agonist as a novel immunotherapeutic approach against osteosarcoma lung metastasis. Poster. SITC 2024. Houston, US.
- 2024. Combination of beta-glucan and CD40 agonist as a novel immunotherapeutic approach against osteosarcoma lung metastasis. Poster. SIOP 2024. Honolulu, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Potentiating cancer immunotherapy for osteosarcoma with hyperactivated dendritic cells |
| Funding Source: | American Cancer Society |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | Harnessing conventional type 1 dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy against osteosarcoma |
| Funding Source: | DOD |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Combining particulate β-glucan with DNMT inhibitor to induce robust anti-tumor response against osteosarcoma lung metastases |
| Funding Source: | UT MD Anderson Cancer Center Sarcoma SPORE Career Enhancement Program |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Epi-Immunotherapy for osteosarcoma lung metastases |
| Funding Source: | Sarcoma Foundation of America |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Potentiating cancer immunotherapy against osteosarcoma by conventional type 1 dendritic cells |
| Funding Source: | MIB Agents |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Conventional dendritic cells type 1 (cDC1) for treatment of osteosarcoma lung metastases |
| Funding Source: | Sarcoma Spore DRP |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Human conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1) as a therapeutic platform for osteosarcoma |
| Funding Source: | Osteosarcoma Institute |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | A novel form of Dendritic cell therapy for osteosarcoma |
| Funding Source: | Rally |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Dual targeting of epigenetics and innate immunity against osteosarcoma |
| Funding Source: | Rally |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Developing conventional type 1 dendritic cells as a novel immunotherapy platform |
| Funding Source: | CPRIT MIRA |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting osteosarcoma lung metastases with conventional type 1 dendritic cell-based immunotherapy |
| Funding Source: | Elsa U Pardee Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Conventional type 1 dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy against osteosarcoma |
| Funding Source: | Curing Kid |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Epigenetic regulators to enhance natural killer cell therapy for osteosarcoma lung metastases |
| Funding Source: | Kids Beating Cancer |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Activating immune response by a natural compound beta-glucan and anti-CD47 antibody to control osteosarcoma-lung metastasis |
| Funding Source: | Enzo & ME PCRF (Children Oncology Group) |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Modulation of tumor immune microenvironment by targeting STAT3 and CD47- SIRPα axis for the treatment of osteosarcoma-lung metastasis |
| Funding Source: | Sarcoma Foundation of America |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Shrestha, P, Shrestha, R, Kleinerman, ES. Inhibition of osteosarcoma lung metastases by β-glucan and CD40 agonist is mediated by activation of macrophages and NK cells. Journal for immunotherapy of cancer 13(10), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41083282.
- Shrestha P, Shrestha R, Zhou Y, Zielinski R, Priebe W, Kleinerman ES. STAT3 inhibition in combination with CD47 blockade inhibits osteosarcoma lung metastasis. Frontiers in Immunology, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Shrestha, P, Turan, A, Batra, L, Gulen, AE, Sun, Z, Tan, H, Askenasy, N, Shirwan, H, Yolcu, ES. Engineering donor lymphocytes with Fas ligand protein effectively prevents acute graft-versus-host disease. Blood Advances 7(10):2181-2195, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36780582.
- Bhagat A, Shrestha P, Jeyabal P, Peng Z, Watowich SS, Kleinerman ES. Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is mediated by neutrophils through release of neutrophil elastase. Frontiers in Oncology, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Batra L, Shrestha P, Zhao H, Woodward KB, Togay A, Tan M, Grimany-Nuno O, Malik MT, Coronel MM, García AJ, Shirwan H. Localized Immunomodulation with PD-L1 Results in Sustained Survival and Function of Allogeneic Islets without Chronic Immunosuppression. The Journal of Immunology, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Shrestha P, Batra L, Tariq Malik M, Tan M, Yolcu ES, Shirwan H. Immune checkpoint CD47 molecule engineered islets mitigate instant blood‐mediated inflammatory reaction and show improved engraftment following intraportal transplantation. American Journal of Transplantation, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Woodward KB, Zhao H, Shrestha P, Batra L, Tan M, Grimany‐Nuno O, Bandura‐Morgan L, Askenasy N, Shirwan H, Yolcu ES. Pancreatic islets engineered with a FasL protein induce systemic tolerance at the induction phase that evolves into long‐term graft‐localized immune privilege. American Journal of Transplantation, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Yerneni SS, Lathwal S, Shrestha P, Shirwan H, Matyjaszewski K, Weiss L, Yolcu ES, Campbell PG, Das SR. Rapid On-Demand Extracellular Vesicle Augmentation with Versatile Oligonucleotide Tethers. ACS nano, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Barsoumian HB, Batra L, Shrestha P, Bowen WS, Zhao H, Egilmez NK, Gomez-Gutierrez JG, Yolcu ES, Shirwan H. A Novel Form of 4-1BBL Prevents Cancer Development via Nonspecific Activation of CD4+ T and Natural Killer Cells. Cancer research, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Headen DM, Woodward KB, Coronel MM, Shrestha P, Weaver JD, Zhao H, Tan M, Hunckler MD, Bowen WS, Johnson CT, Shea L. Local immunomodulation with Fas ligand-engineered biomaterials achieves allogeneic islet graft acceptance. Nature materials, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Shrestha P, Zhanglong P, Yuanzheng Y, Kleinerman E. A novel Dendritic cell vaccine targeting CD70 for osteosarcoma lung metastases.
Review Articles
- Bhagat A, Shrestha P, Kleinerman ES. The Innate Immune System in Cardiovascular Diseases and Its Role in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Williams C. L, Yolcu E. S, Woodward K B, Zhao H, Bowen W S, Shrestha P, Batra L, Askenasy N, Shirwan H. FasL mediated apoptosis as an effective means of inducing tolerance to allogenic pancreatic islets. Turkish J Biochem, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
Abstracts
- Shrestha P, Rejeena Shrestha, Eugenie Kleinerman. Activation of immune response with β-glucan and CD40 agonist as a novel immunotherapeutic approach against osteosarcoma lung metastasis. SITC Annual Meeting. e-Pub 2024.
- Yolcu E, Shrestha P, Turan A, Shirwan H. Targeting apoptotic pathway to eliminate Teff cells as an effective approach to prevent acute GVHD in a humanized mouse model. e-Pub 2023.
- Yolcu ES, Shrestha P, Turan A, Shirwan H. Exploiting Fas-mediated autocrine apoptosis of donor alloreactive T cells as an effective approach to prevent acute graft-versus-host disease in a humanized mouse model. e-Pub 2023.
- Shirwan H, Batra L, Li Q, Malik MT, Shrestha P, Egilmez N, Yolcu ES. A novel agonist of CD137 shows immunoprevention efficacy against various tumors by invoking an innate immune surveillance mechanism. e-Pub 2022.
- Shrestha P, Rejeena Shrestha, Eugenie Kleinerman. Combination of beta-glucan and CD40 agonist as a novel immunotherapeutic approach against osteosarcoma lung metastasis. SIOP Annual Meeting. e-Pub 2021.
- Shrestha P, Batra L, Malik MT, Tan M, Yolcu ES, Shirwan H. CD47 Innate Immune Checkpoint Enhances Islet Engraftment Following Intraportal Transplantation by Mitigating Instant Blood Mediated Inflammatory Reaction. e-Pub 2020.
- Batra L, Shrestha P, Zhao H, Woodward KB, Tan M, Nuno OG, Togay A, Coronel MM, Garcia AJ, Shirwan H, Yolcu ES. Immune Checkpoint PD-L1 Pathway as an Effective Platform for Localized Immunomodulation to Attain Indefinite Allogeneic Islet Graft Survival. Am J Transplant. e-Pub 2020.
- Haval Shirwan, Lalit Batra, Mohammad Tariq Malik, Shrestha P, Jenci L. Hawthorne, Esma S. Yolcu. SA-4-1BBL as a novel agonist of CD137 has immunoprevention efficacy against various tumor types. AACR Annual Meeting. e-Pub 2020.
- Batra L, Shrestha P, Yolcu ES, Zhao H, Bowen WS, Woodward KB, Coronel M, Tan M, García AJ, Shirwan AH. PD-L1-engineered pancreatic islet grafts overcome rejection in allogeneic recipients. J. Immunol.
- Shrestha P, Bowen WS, Batra L, Tan M, Yolcu ES, Shirwan H. Display of CD47 protein on pancreatic islet grafts improves engraftment following intraportal transplantation.
- Shirwan H, Woodward KB, Headen DM, Zhao H, Shrestha P, Tan M, Bowen WS, Coronel MM, Hunckler MD, Weaver JD, Yolcu E, García AJ. SA-FasL-engineered PEG microgels as a novel means of modulating immune response to allogeneic islet grafts. J. Immunol.
- Headen, D, Woodward, K, Weaver, J, Coronel, M.M, Shrestha P, Bowen, W, Johnson, C, Shea, L, Yolcu, E, Garcia, A, Shirwan, H. In tissue engineering part A. Allogeneic Graft Tolerance without Immunosuppression via Engineered Immunomodulatory Signal Presentation.
- Headen D, Weaver J, Yolcu E, Woodward K, Zhao H, Shrestha P, Shirwan H, García AJ. Microgels presenting SA-FasL achieve allogeneic islet graft acceptance without chronic immunosuppression. 2017 Society for Biomaterials Annual meetings.
- Batra L, Shrestha P, Yolcu ES, Zhao H, Bowen WS, Woodward KB, Coronel MM, Tan M, Garcia AJ, Shirwan H. The transient display of a chimeric PD-L1 protein on pancreatic islets promotes indefinite survival in allogeneic recipients. 27th International Congress of the Transplantation Society.
- Shrestha P, Bowen WS, Batra L, Tan M, Yolcu ES, Shirwan H. CD47 Overcomes Early Loss of Pancreatic Islet Grafts Transplanted. Intraportally. 27th International Congress of the Transplantation Society.
- Lalit Batra, Hampartsoum B.Barsoumian, Shrestha P, Jenci L. Hawthorne, William S. Bowen, Hong Zhao, Nejat K. Egilmez, Jorge G. Gomez-Gutierrez, Haval Shirwan, Esma S. Yolcu. A novel agonist of CD137 immune checkpoint stimulator serves as a cancer immunoprevention agent with efficacy against various tumor types. American Association of Immunologists.
- Lalit Batra, Shrestha P, Hong Zhao, Kyle B. Woodward, Alper Togay, Min Tan, Orlando Grimany-Nuno, Mohammad Tariq Malik, María M. Coronel, Andrés J. García, Haval Shirwan, Esma S. Yolcu. Immunomodulation with SA-PDL1 protein on pancreatic islets promotes indefinite graft survival in allogeneic recipients. 28th International Congress of The Transplantation Society.
- Haval Shirwan, Hampartsoum B. Barsoumian, Lalit Batra, Shrestha P, William S. Bowen, Hong Zhao, Nejat K. Egilmez, Jorge G. Gomez-Gutierrez, Esma S. Yolcu. A novel form of 4-1BB agonist shows robust immune protection against various tumor types through CD4+ memory-like T and NK cell axis. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR-2019).
- Shrestha P, Lalit Batra, Mohammad Tariq Malik, Min Tan, Esma Yolcu, Haval Shirwan. Islets engineered with CD47 innate immune checkpoint protein show enhanced engraftment following intraportal transplantation by mitigating instant blood mediated inflammatory reaction. International Congress of The Transplantation Society.
- Haval Shirwan, Lalit Batra, Qingsheng Li, Mohammad T. Malik, Shrestha P, Nejat Egilmez, Esma S Yolcu. A novel agonist of CD137 shows immunoprevention efficacy against various tumors by invoking an innate immune surveillance mechanism. AACR Annual Meeting.
- Shrestha P, Rafal Zielinski, Waldemar Priebe, Eugenie Kleinerman. The orally bioavailable STAT3 inhibitor WP1066 as a novel therapeutic approach against osteosarcoma lung metastasis. FACTOR 2022.
- Anjier A, Shrestha P, Gopalakrishnan V, Cheng D, Yang Y, Kingsley C, Kleinerman E, Gordon N. Entinostat enhances NK cell efficacy against osteosarcoma lung metastases by improving cytokine production, trafficking, persistence and cytotoxicity. SITC Annual Meeting.
- Woodward KB, Headen DM, Shrestha P, Tan M, Bowen WS, Coronel MM, Hunckler MD, Weaver JD, Yolcu ES, Garcia AJ, Shirwan H. Immunomodulation with FA-FasL-engineered mucrogels achieves long-term survival of allogeneic islet grafts. 27th International Congress of the Transplantation Society.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified May 12, 2026