Our Research
Our lab studies the cellular interactions that shape immune responses in human tumors, focusing on how these responses are regulated. Using a combination of large-scale genomic analyses and tissue imaging approaches, we have identified hubs in tumor tissues where tumor cells come into close contact with immune cells. By characterizing the cells in these hubs, and the gene networks that are turned on in these cells, our lab aims to uncover novel ways to harness the immune system in the fight against cancer.
Our Partners
Our People
We are a brand new lab located at the Gladstone Institutes in sunny Mission Bay looking for passionate students and postdoctoral fellows to join us in our mission to decode the cellular interaction networks that shape immune responses in human tumors. We are excited to grow into a cross-disciplinary, collaborative and diverse lab that includes clinicians, immunologists, geneticists, cancer researchers, and computational biologists.
Media Highlights
Stay Updated
Keep up-to-date with the latest research from the Pelka lab.
Very lucky to have Aditya as my first employee 😃
Congrats to my close colleague and friend @j_eyquem! This opens up so many important avenues of ...research - a sign of a great body of work. https://twitter.com/j_eyquem/status/1613704444499365890
Excited to share the story of the @GladstoneInst @UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology - what ...we’ve been building over the past two years and where we’re heading in the years to come! https://gladstone.org/news/re-engineering-human-immune-system
Recent Lab News
December 2022
Karin presented at UCSF’s Division of Experimental Medicine (DEM) Seminar Series!
November 2022
Karin served as the anchor speaker for the Cancer Immunology section of the IgEquity symposium. As an avid supporter of gender equity, Karin was happy to partake in the conference!
October 2022
Getiara Zaidi joins the Pelka Lab as Administrative Associate to Karin Pelka, and Jack Demaray joins as Research Associate. Welcome, Getiara and Jack!