Biography

Dr. Ohashi received her PhD from the University of Toronto with Dr. Tak Mak, and did her post-doctoral training at the University of Zurich with the Nobel Laureate Dr. Rolf Zinkernagel and Dr. Hans Hengartner. She has established a research program at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto with a focus on CD8+ T cells, and mechanisms that modulate T cell function, particularly in the context of different tumor microenvironments. These insights are relevant for understanding how to manipulate the immune system to improve immunotherapy.

Since 2005, she has established and grown the Tumor Immunotherapy Program at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, which includes a cutting-edge Immune Profiling team as well as a Cell Manufacturing team that has launched investigator-initiated clinical trials using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, TCR transduced T cells, and CAR T cell therapy.

SITC Election Platform Statement

What are the two or three critical issues facing the field of cancer immunotherapy?

1) Funding

2) Developing the most promising combination trials: there is no doubt that immune therapy has tremendous potential to continue to impact cancer treatment. However, the field could improve the types of combination trials that are prioritized. As an example: new reagents have been targeting the 'obvious' candidates but whether it is really ideal to pile on more strategies targeting inhibitory molecules is questionable. There are many other barriers, and more emphasis should be made to develop strategies that focus on other molecules and mechanisms.

3) Innovative research: The immune system is complex and regulated by a series of mechanisms that are immune based, but also tumor/stromal cell based. There is also an underlying level of complexity for targeting defined cell subsets because certain molecules are often expressed on diverse immune populations. As an example, it is difficult to target regulatory T cells. In order to develop successful rational combination therapies, we need further research to identify mechanisms/pathways/cells/molecules to target and a way to cross compare these strategies.  

What is Your Vision for SITC?

My vision for SITC is to maintain this organization as a global leader in showcasing cancer immunotherapy. Over the decades, SITC has played a critical role in bringing together experts in the field, providing an important platform for knowledge exchange, sharing expertise, and moving the field forward. This now extends to many initiatives including outreach to government and other societies, training, funding, and developing the careers of young trainees, and highlighting the key contributions of stars in this field. This society has played a visionary and pivotal role and should continue to develop and nurture this field that has tremendous potential to continue to revolutionize cancer treatment and achieve curative therapy.

2023 SITC Election Homepage