Leonardo M. R. Ferreira, Ph.D….My goal is to control how the immune system recognizes self and non-self. This knowledge will allow us to reestablish immune tolerance in autoimmunity and organ transplant rejection, as well as to enhance immunity in cancer and persistent infections. I am an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and, by courtesy, of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the Hollings Cancer Center. As a graduate student at Harvard University with professors Jack Strominger and Chad Cowan, I studied human pregnancy as a model of immune tolerance and uncovered an enhancer element regulating the expression of the nonclassical tolerance-inducing molecule HLA-G. I was also the first to report the use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in clinically relevant primary human cells – hematopoietic stem cells and CD4+ T cells – and generated hypoimmunogenic human pluripotent stem cells by combined CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout and knock-in. As a postdoctoral scholar with professors Qizhi Tang and Jeffrey Bluestone at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), I created an anti-HLA-A2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knock-in to replace the endogenous T cell receptor (TCR) gene with this CAR gene in primary human regulatory T cells (Tregs). HLA-A2 CAR Tregs were suppressive specifically upon recognizing HLA-A2 in vitro and in humanized mice transplanted with HLA-A2+ human islets. My laboratory focuses on using engineered immune receptors to systematically study how specificity, affinity, and signaling modulate T cell function in cancer, autoimmunity, and organ transplant rejection, as well as on using this knowledge to develop new cellular therapies.

Jaclyn Summers is a graduate of the College of Central Florida. While there she studied Business and Organizational Management with a specialization in Public Service. She began working for the American Cancer Society as a Relay For Life Specialist soon after graduation. In 2015, she relocated to the Lowcountry and continued her work with the ACS as a Senior Community Development Manager. Jaclyn has a strong background in nonprofit community events, mission-oriented work, mobilization of event volunteers and fundraising/corporate sponsorship. After a short career break, Jaclyn joined MUSC Hollings Cancer Center as a LOWVELO Rider Recruiter in early 2022.

Jaclyn is originally from Long Island, New York. She lives in Summerville with her husband, Jonathan, and her two sons, Zachary (5) and Caleb (3). She enjoys exploring the Lowcountry, entertaining friends and family, and meeting new people.