Exploring Cost-effective Immunotherapy Treatments
Edmonton researcher Dr. Michael Chu aims to bring CAR T-cell clinical trials to 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ
Dr. Michael Chu is convinced is a game-changing treatment in the stand against cancer, and he sees the potential for this type of medicine as nearly limitless."For decades we've been relying on surgery, chemo, and radiation, [but] immunotherapy has really changed how we look at oncology. We can now target the actual cancer cells directly through this treatment," says Chu, a clinician and researcher at the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ's (U of A) department of oncology. "It's changed melanoma from an entirely palliative disease to something where about 50 to 60 per cent of patients are cured of it."
Chu, 34, is a born-and-raised Edmontonian who did his medical training at the U of A. Four years ago, his career focus shifted to immunotherapy after a combined clinical and research fellowship at . Now a member of the Cancer 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ Institute of Northern 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ (CRINA), and currently practicing at the in Edmonton, Chu is leading the development of a clinical trial to manufacture CAR T-cells in 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ to treat leukemia and lymphoma.