Sjöberg laureate reveals new immune targets for cancer treatment

Miriam Merad, a pioneer in cancer immunology at Mount Sinai, USA, has uncovered critical insights into how cells in the innate immune system can influence the body’s ability to combat tumours. Her groundbreaking work has made these cells an exciting new avenue for innovative cancer therapies, earning her the prestigious Sjöberg Prize, valued at one million US dollars.

While the adaptive immune system, particularly T cells, is known for its role in attacking tumours, Merad’s research reveals that myeloid cells, including macrophages from the innate immune system, also play a pivotal role in cancer’s microenvironment.

Over two decades of dedicated research, Merad made a game-changing discovery: not all macrophages come from the blood system; some develop early in embryonic life. She then focused on understanding how these myeloid cells interact with various cancers, revealing that macrophages, typically responsible for cleaning dead cells and bacteria, can be hijacked by tumours. This manipulation suppresses T cell activity, hindering their ability to destroy cancer cells and facilitating tumour growth.

In recent years, Merad’s work has progressed further, especially with studies involving lung cancer in both mice and humans. By disrupting signals from macrophages, she found that T cells became more responsive, significantly enhancing their capacity to target tumours. This intervention has shown promise in reducing tumour size or even halting its progression, offering new hope for cancer treatments. The prize money will enable Merad to expand her research, particularly into the role of inflammatory myeloid cells in cancer development, especially in older patients.

"I'm deeply honoured to receive this award, which will be instrumental in advancing our efforts to modulate myeloid cells and their impact on cancer progression, especially in aging populations," Merad said. "Prevention-focused research is often underfunded, so this prize comes at a crucial time for our team."

The Sjöberg Prize Committee, part of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, is excited about the future of Merad’s research. "Miriam Merad is a pioneer in cancer immunotherapy, and her discoveries on myeloid cells are a breakthrough with enormous potential for shaping the next generation of cancer treatments," said Thomas Perlmann, member of the Academy and chair of the Prize Committee.

Miriam Merad is a Professor of Cancer Immunology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. She also serves as the Director of both the Precision Immunology Institute and the Marc & Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute.

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