The Ubil Lab is interested in identifying cancer cell-derived signals that reduce the anti-tumor immune response. In particular, we study how a group of tumor secreted ligands bind to, and activate, the Tyro3/Axl/Mer (TAM) family of receptors expressed on macrophages. While we are still beginning to understand how activation of these receptors facilitates downstream intracellular changes, we do know that most of those changes facilitate continued tumor progression. Our main goals are to understand how tumors utilize this signaling network in macrophages and to develop therapeutics to improve the immune response to cancer.
