Mingeum Jeong, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow Weill Cornell Medicine Area of Research: Melanoma, Solid Cancers Mingeum Jeong, PhD, is pioneering research to improve treatments for solid tumors, which account for 90% of adult cancer cases, including melanoma. One promising strategy, adoptive cell therapy (ACT), involves expanding tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the lab and reintroducing them to the patient. While ACT has outperformed other therapies like immune checkpoint blockade, it still only benefits a small subset of patients due to the harsh tumor environment. Solid tumors deplete vital nutrients, undermining immune cell function. Dr. Jeong’s work focuses on overcoming this challenge by harnessing caloric restriction (CR), a strategy that has shown promise in improving the survival and functionality of T cells within solid tumors. However, CR is not feasible for all patients. To address this, she plans to identify specific nutrients that can mimic the effects of CR, enhancing immune cell activity without requiring a full reduction in caloric intake. «Through nutritional interventions, we can optimize the tumor environment to support immune cell function and improve treatment outcomes for solid tumor cancers,» says Dr. Jeong. «My goal is to translate my research into practical, accessible dietary strategies that could improve the effectiveness of immune cell therapies for a broader range of patients.» By developing diets that target these key nutrients, Dr. Jeong’s research could provide an accessible and effective way to improve immune cell therapies, offering new hope for patients with solid tumors like metastatic melanoma. Projects and Grants Harnessing Calorie Restriction as a Nutritional Intervention to Enhance Anti-Cancer Immunotherapy Weill Cornell Medicine| Melanoma; Solid Tumors | 2025 | Nicholas Collins, PhD
