Research in the Turk Laboratory at Dartmouth investigates how T cells respond to progressive cancers. We study the mechanisms underlying the generation of T cell memory to cancer, with a focus on the role autoimmune disease and regulatory T cells. We believe in using tumor models that are poorly-immunogenic, autochthonous, and driven by the expression of known oncogenes.

Jichang Han to Receive Prestigious NCI Award

“The huge support from my mentor, Dr. Mary Jo Turk, and other faculty members and from Geisel all together made this difficult and competitive grant possible, which is very exciting,” says Han. “This grant will facilitate my transition into successful cancer research postdoctoral appointments, and provide opportunities for career development activities relevant to my long-term goal of becoming an independent cancer researcher.”

2021.09.14

AAAS EurekAlert: Researchers find immune cells that guard frequent site of cancer spread

“These long-lived T cells, called “lymph node resident memory T cells,” were shown to counteract melanoma spreading in mice. Turk’s team found that when melanoma cells were put back into mice that had been cured of cancer with immunotherapy a month earlier, the lymph nodes were still resistant to the cancer—the melanoma would not grow.

“We also identified T cells with similar characteristics in melanoma-invaded patient lymph nodes, showing that similar populations exist in humans,” reveals Turk.

2021.04.02 Aleksey Molodtsov has departed  the Turk lab. We are sad and will miss him, but we wish him the best in his future work.

2020.12.24 Congratulations to Aleksey Molodtsov on his successful PhD defense.

2019.12.12: Congratulations Jichang on winning the karaoke prize at the Geisel Xmas party!

Congratulations to Mary Jo on being named the O. Ross McIntyre, MD, professor!

Mary Jo Turk Named the O. Ross McIntyre, MD, Professor