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.
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Keep up-to-date with the latest research from the Pelka lab.
Recent Lab News
July 2023
Two new members joined the lab: Han Chen and Nils Asmann. Welcome, both! Nils was also awarded the PROMOS scholarship, and Anna and Alisa were awarded two Symbiont Seed grants. Congrats to all three of our members!
August 2023
Karin was invited to attend and speak at the Cell Symposium: The Conceptual Power of Single Cell Biology in San Diego late this month! In lab member news, Sara started her thesis, and Alisa officially gained her postdoc title. An exciting month for the Pelka Lab!
September 2023
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April 2023
Four new lovely members joined the lab: Anna Ralser, Alisa Dietl, McKenzie Daanen, and Amelie Delcourt. Welcome, all! Karin, Alisa, and Anna also had the pleasure of attending the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Spring Retreat in Hawaii!
May 2023
Karin, along with other PIs, hosted the 1st Biannual 2023 Spatial Profiling Symposium Highlighting Cancer Research! The symposium took place at the Parnassus campus and had a wonderful turnout. Congrats to all organizers for a successful event!
June 2023
The Pelka lab had the pleasure of attending the 2023 Genomic Immunology Institute Retreat along with many other labs from the institute! Karin was also invited to the 2023 Arthur and Sandra Irving Cancer Immunology Symposium in Boston towards the end of the month.
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
This month marks the Pelka Lab’s first year! Our lab’s hard work and dedication never go unnoticed, and we all look forward to yet another productive and fun year!
March 2023
Earlier in March, the Pelka Lab had the pleasure of attending the Bay Area PICI Symposium held at Gladstone where Karin also presented some of the lab’s work!
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!