Israeli scientists redesign T cells, shrinking tumors in promising cancer study

One of the major questions in immunotherapy is how to help the immune system better recognize cancerous and viral targets and attack them. A new Israeli study now offers another step in that direction: Researchers at Bar-Ilan University and the Weizmann Institute of Science have found a way to strengthen immune cells so they can better identify cancer cells and viruses and attack them more effectively. In the study, published last week in the journal Science Advances, the researchers used computer-assisted protein design to improve the receptor immune cells use to identify their targets. In experiments, the engineered cells produced a stronger immune response and showed an enhanced ability to attack target cells. Identifying the enemy from within “In recent years, we have seen major advances in the field of immunotherapy,” said Prof.