Michael A. Curran

Michael A. Curran is a Professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research focuses on cancer immunotherapy, tumor immunology, and the pharmacological modulation of innate immune pathways. His recent work has centered on STING agonism, demonstrating its capacity to remodel the tumor microenvironment, open the blood-brain barrier in high-grade gliomas, and sensitize tumors to checkpoint blockade. He has also investigated IL1R1 blockade in pancreatic cancer and the impact of sickle cell disease on CD8+ T-cell anti-tumor immunity. His translational efforts include the IND-enabling development of the novel STING agonist IMGS-203 and a Phase I trial combining lefitolimod with ipilimumab. He received a 2015 award for research on immunologic rejection of pancreatic cancer.