Rosa Vincent, PhD, CRI WoodNext Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow Baylor College of Medicine Area of Research: All Cancers Rosa Vincent, PhD, is a pioneering researcher developing novel therapies that combine engineered CAR T-cells and probiotic bacteria to treat solid tumors. While CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized treatment for blood cancers, its application to solid tumors has been limited by the harsh tumor microenvironment. Dr. Vincent’s innovative approach utilizes probiotic bacteria to deliver cancer-fighting agents directly into tumors, providing a new avenue to enhance CAR T-cell efficacy in these difficult-to-treat cancers. Dr. Vincent’s journey began with her MRes at Imperial College London, where her CRISPR-based gene editing work earned her the 2014 Prize for Biomedical Research. She then applied her expertise to the development of allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies with Pfizer, targeting key challenges in solid tumors. Motivated to improve the targeting and persistence of CAR T-cells in immunosuppressive environments, she joined Dr. Wendell Lim’s Cell Design Labs in 2016, where she utilized synthetic biology to equip CAR T-cells with advanced circuitry to enhance their effectiveness. Her breakthrough research took a dramatic turn in 2017 when she explored the potential of tumor-colonizing bacteria as a tool to improve CAR T-cell targeting in solid tumors. This led to the creation of the first cross-Kingdom cell therapy platform for solid tumor targeting, which combines the antigen-independent specificity of bacteria with the tumor-killing power of CAR T-cells. As an Irvington Fellow at CRI, Dr. Vincent is poised to transform cancer treatment through her cutting-edge approach. «This fellowship represents a chance to give back to the community that inspired me and to develop new solutions for the critical challenges of treating solid tumors,» says Dr. Vincent. Her work has the potential to redefine cancer immunotherapy, offering hope for patients facing some of the most difficult cancers to treat. Projects and Grants Engineering Cooperativity Between CAR T-cells and Therapeutic Bacteria to Reshape the Solid Tumor Microenvironment for Lasting Antitumor Immunity Baylor College of Medicine | All Cancers| 2025 | Cliona Rooney, PhD
