Helen E. Heslop, MD

Biography

Dr. Helen Heslop is Dan L. Duncan Chair, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics and Director of the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital. Additionally, she holds the role of the Deputy Director of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Heslop is a physician scientist engaged in translational research focusing on adoptive immunotherapy with gene-modified effector cells, to improve hemopoietic stem cell transplantation and cancer therapy. An additional focus in reconstituting antiviral immunity post transplant. She therefore has extensive experience in developing and conducting transplant studies and cell and gene therapy studies and currently serves as sponsor for over 20 INDs. She is a past President of the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT), the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplant (ASBMT) and the Foundation for Accreditation of Cell Therapy (FACT) and the past chair of the BMT CTN Steering Committee. She is an elected member of the American Association of Physicians and the National Academy of Medicine.

SITC Election Platform Statement

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

Immunotherapy has shown impressive efficacy in treating many cancers and the clinical trial responses and commercial approvals of immunomodulatory molecules, antibodies and cell therapies reflect successful translation of laboratory discoveries by many SITC members. However, there are still challenges to address, such as improving efficacy, broadening access, and overcoming resistance mechanisms so more patients can benefit from immunotherapies. For cell therapies, improving access will require scientific innovation to simplify manufacture of autologous products, develop banked allogeneic cells and evaluate new approaches such as in vivo gene therapy to modify immune cells. Research is also needed to understand and overcome mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapies.

An equally important issue is ensuring equitable and affordable access to all patients who may benefit from immunotherapy. This will require innovative regulatory strategies, advocacy for policies that support  research, financial coverage and access to immunotherapy, and exploring different care models, such as point-of-care manufacturing for cell therapies.

What is Your Vision for SITC?

The mission of SITC is to improve cancer outcomes and make cancer immunotherapy a standard of care. Broadly SITC should continue its conferences and other programs to facilitate collaboration among researchers, healthcare professionals, industry partners, and patient advocacy groups to accelerate progress in the field. SITC already has a portfolio of education program aimed at trainees and junior investigators but should continue to collect feedback about needs and also consider if it should target the broader workforce needed for immunotherapy trials given some of the recent challenges with the clinical research workforce. Providing research grants for trainees and young investigators is also an important need and SITC should continue to evaluate its programs and support the most effective initiatives. As immunotherapy products can have unique side effects SITC should continue to develop guidelines and standards for the use of immunotherapy, to ensure that patients receive high-quality, evidence-based care. Finally SITC should continue its efforts to educate government leaders, policy makers and other stakeholders on the importance of immunotherapy as a treatment modality. 

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