Dr. Joseph Fraietta

Biography

Joseph Fraietta, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in microbiology and cellular immunotherapy. He leads the Fraietta Laboratory, which focuses on innovative strategies for immunotherapy, primarily through the manipulation of T cells to improve efficacy against various cancers. His research expertise includes elucidating T cell dysfunction in cancer, designing and testing genetically-directed CAR T cells, and exploring epigenetic programming of immune cells. Fraietta's lab employs cutting-edge technologies, such as genome editing and synthetic biology, to enhance the anti-tumor activities of T cells. Notably, the laboratory co-led a groundbreaking study that introduced multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-edited T cells into humans for the first time, signifying a major advancement in the field. He is also dedicated to identifying biomarkers that can predict responses to CAR T cell therapy, with the ultimate aim of personalizing treatment strategies to improve outcomes for patients. Dr. Fraietta's work is characterized by a commitment to bridging basic research and clinical applications, ensuring that his findings translate into actionable therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Research Interests