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.
Don't know anything about football, but @dak is indeed a truly incredible and fun person! Still ...endlessly grateful to him and the @FFFfoundation4 for the #SU2C Peggy Prescott Award for Colorectal Cancer research! It had such a huge impact on my science and career path!
Awesome work as always, congrats @mgentili_ !!
So inspired after meeting @carlhjune and the Whiteheads at the #SU2CSummit2023 and so grateful to ...@SU2C and all donors for enabling amazing and much needed cross-disciplinary research to keep pushing the boundaries!
Recent Lab News
January 2023
Three new lovely members joined the lab: Sara Misiukiewicz, Jodi Lee, and Scott Engels! Welcome, all! Karin also had the pleasure of attending the SU2C Summit in San Diego. An exciting month for the Pelka Lab!
February 2023
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March 2023
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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!
December 2022
Karin presented at UCSF’s Division of Experimental Medicine (DEM) Seminar Series!