AFFILIATIONS

Columbia University, United States

SUMMARY OF WINNING ENTRY

For Development of CAR T Cell Therapy for Cancer and Other Diseases

Professor Sadelain based upon Professor Esshar’s design of CAR molecules , developed effective CAR T cells towards clinical application. Professor Sadelain reported in 1992 the first successful primary human T cell transduction to express chimeric antigen-T cell receptor molecule. His lab developed novel receptors endowed with both activating and costimulatory domains leading to the second generation of CAR T cells. He focused on the development of CAR T cells targeting CD19, a molecule specifically found on blood-borne cancer or leukemia, leading to the effective treatment in preclinical non-human models and subsequent successful implementation in human clinical studies. The clinical trials led by several groups, including Professor Sadelain’s, demonstrated that adult chronic lymphocytic and childhood acute lymphocytic leukemias could be eradicated with CAR T cells targeting CD19.

SCALE OF IMPACT

Together with the pioneering work of Professor June, the studies of Professor Sadelain and others led to the approval of the first CAR T cell therapy by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for childhood and young adult acute lymphocytic leukemias and is now considered for clinical care world-wide.

MEANINGFUL CHANGE

The foundational work by Professor Sadelain to advance the effectiveness of CAR T cells led to life-saving cellular immunotherapies that now have global reach. Further improvements are expected to make these therapies more economical for global impact.