Immunology

14 results.

October 23, 2025 Harnessing the immune system to combat cancer: A Q&A with Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Michael Dahabieh

Immunotherapies have been a game-changer for cancer.

These powerful treatments work by bolstering the immune system’s ability to detect and kill cancer cells, but they…

August 5, 2025 ‘Sweet’ discovery reveals how glucose fuels cancer-fighting immune cells

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Aug. 5, 2025) — For cancer- and infection-fighting T cells, glucose offers far more than a simple sugar rush.

A new discovery by…

June 27, 2025 Releasing a molecular ‘brake’ may help immune cells better fight cancer

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 27, 2025) — Van Andel Institute scientists and collaborators have discovered a potential treatment target that may re-energize dysfunctional or “exhausted” immune…

December 30, 2024 The crossroads of immunity, metabolism and cancer

How exactly does metabolism power immune cells? And can we find ways to optimize this process to combat disease?

In a recent public lecture, a…

December 12, 2024 Your immune cells are what they eat

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Dec. 12, 2024) — The decision between scrambled eggs or an apple for breakfast probably won’t make or break your day. However,…

August 22, 2024 Immune cells have a metabolic backup plan for accessing their anti-cancer playbook

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Aug. 22, 2024) — Immune cells use two different routes to produce acetyl-CoA, an essential metabolite required to fight infection and cancer, reports…

June 3, 2024 Immune cells swap snacks and trade information to do their jobs. Can we help them be more effective?

Dr. Russell Jones spends a lot of time thinking about what our cells eat.

As a scientist who studies the interaction between the immune…

July 28, 2023 Alternative cellular ‘fuels’ boost immunity

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (July 28, 2023) — A metabolic by-product that is more prevalent during fasting may supercharge immune cells as they fight infection and…