Thomas M. Duhen, PhD
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute
Providence Cancer Institute
Dr. Duhen is an experienced scientist with extensive knowledge in human T-cell immunology – both in autoimmune diseases and cancer. Currently, he leads the Anti-Cancer Immune Response Lab at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a Providence Center of Excellence for immuno-oncology and cellular therapy.
Dr. Duhen’s interest in T-cell immunology began during his postdoctoral fellowship. He studied in the lab of Professor Federica Sallusto in Switzerland, where he gained experience working with human T-cells. Throughout his lab experience, including his most recent work at AgonOx (a biotechnology spin-off of the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute), he discovered a new subset of human CD4 T-cells, called Th22 cells. These cells are thought to play a role in skin homeostasis and wound healing. He also identified a unique population of CD8 T-cells capable of infiltrating human solid tumors that are enriched in tumor-reactive T-cells.
The Anti-Cancer Immune Response Lab studies the biology of tumor-reactive T-lymphocytes and how they interact with other cell types present in the tumor microenvironment (the tumor and its surrounding areas). The main goal of the lab is to determine the impact of these interactions on how a patient’s immune system responds to cancer. Ultimately, Dr. Duhen believes that a better understanding of these interactions will help design new drug regimens for patients with cancer.
- Postdoctoral, Immunology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 2014
- Doctor of Philosophy, Oncology, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille / Université de la Méditerranée, Aix-Marseille II, 2006
- Master of Science, Oncology, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille / Université de la Méditerranée, Aix-Marseille II, 2002
- Bachelor of Science in cellular biology, IUT de Toulon / Université Toulon-Var - Faculté Catholique de Lyon, 1998
- Assistant member, Anti-Cancer Immune Response Laboratory, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute, 2019-present
- Senior research scientist, AgonOx, 2014-2019
- Staff scientist, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 2014
- Senior postdoctoral fellow, Laboratory of Dr. Daniel J. Campbell, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center, 2010-2014
- Postdoctoral fellow, Laboratory of Prof. Federica Sallusto, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, 2007-2009
- American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
- Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)
- Pilot project award: “Role of Th22 cells in Scleroderma,” Virginia Mason internal funding, 2014
- AAI Trainee Abstract Award, AAI annual meeting, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 2014
- Arthritis Foundation postdoctoral fellowship, 2010-2013
- AAI Trainee Abstract Award, AAI annual meeting. Honolulu, Hawaii, 2013
- Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) annual meeting travel award, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2012
- Keystone Scholarship for the Symposium “Immunologic Memory, Persisting Microbes and Chronic Disease,” Banff, Alberta, Canada, 2011
- INNOCHEM travel fellowship, 2nd European Congress of Immunology, Berlin, Germany, 2009
- Keystone Scholarship for the Symposium “Dendritic cells”, Banff, Alberta, Canada, 2009
- Fondation ARC graduate research fellowship, 2005
Dr. Duhen’s research is published in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals. He has partnered with colleagues on various research projects.