Jessica Chacon
Assistant Professor Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Dr. Jessica Chacon is a tenure-track assistant professor of immunology and microbiology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, with a secondary appointment in dental medicine. With over 15 years of experience in immunology and cancer immunotherapy, her research focuses on T-cell biology and translational approaches to improve cancer treatment outcomes. Her work bridges scientific innovation with education, as reflected in her leadership in curriculum development and mentorship of medical and graduate students. Dr. Chacon is the founder and project director of the El Paso Health Education and Awareness Team (EP-HEAT®), a community-driven initiative that trains students to deliver bilingual health education and address health disparities in underserved populations. She has led multiple funded projects and collaborative programs focused on community engagement, digital literacy, and public health outreach along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Seminars
As the field moves beyond melanoma, the need for optimized efficacy and safety is forcing a rethink of manufacturing strategies and delivery strategies.
This workshop addresses the growing recognition that current TIL strategies involve bulk TIL expansion, diluting tumor reactive potential and requiring high dose IL-2 for efficacy.
Key questions addressed in this workshop:
- Which tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte subsets are truly reactive rather than expanded bystanders?
- Do selection approaches such as PD-1 or neoantigen targeting enrich potency or accelerate exhaustion?
• How can next-generation approaches optimize safety vs. efficacy?
- Comparing genome editing approaches used to enhance potency, persistence, and tumor recognition
- Reviewing safety, manufacturability, and regulatory trade-offs of engineered TIL designs
- Identifying where genetic modification adds clear clinical value vs. added complexity
- Can TIL manufacturing be designed for in vivo development rather than culturing the cells in vitro?
