Synthetic CD8+ T cells for next generation ACT

The aim of my PhD project is to computationally investigate non-canonical CD8⁺ T states to enhance their function in the context of Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT). By leveraging single-cell transcriptomic data from Perturb-seq CRISPR screens across diverse conditions—such as T cell exhaustion, cytokine exposure, and acute infection—I seek to identify key perturbations that influence cell state and associated phenotype. Integrating mathematical modeling and causal machine learning, this work will uncover mechanistic insights and pinpoint engineering targets to improve T cell stemness and cytotoxicity, ultimately advancing the therapeutic efficacy of engineered T cells in cancer treatment.