Dr. Joseph Cantor

Joseph Cantor, M.D. Dr. Joseph Cantor was trained as a cellular immunologist before becoming an Assistant Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego. His studies have described the role of CD98 in adaptive immunity.  In addition to authoring papers in highly-respected immunology journals, he serves as an immunology lecturer for the medical school and for rheumatology fellows. Dr. Cantor is a reviewer for Diabetes and a member of the American Association of Immunologists, the Immunology of Diabetes Society, and the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies.

 

About the Lab

Dr. Cantor’s pioneering work on CD98 in adaptive immunity has shed light on the connection between adhesive signaling and nutrient transport in lymphocyte clonal expansion. CD98 and other integrin-associated proteins govern the expansion and migration of T and B cells in ways that strongly regulate protective immunity, autoimmunity, and anti-tumor immunity. The Cantor lab is currently investigating how CD98 and RIAM are regulated, how they control lymphocyte proliferation, and how these proteins could be exploited to boost weak protective immunity or prevent/treat autoimmunity. His research also includes modulating integrin-associated proteins to improve adoptive immunotherapy for cancer.

Research Highlights

Recent publications include

  • Loss of T cell RIAM Disrupts Immunological Synapses and Prevents Immune-mediated Diabetes, J of Immunology
  • Endothelial Cells REquire CD98 for Efficient Angiogenesis, ATVB
  • Fine-tuning Tumor Immunity with Integrin Trans-regulation.  Cancer Immunology Research
  • CD98 is a potential target for ablating B cell clonal expansion and autoantibody in multiple sclerosis.
    Journal of Neuroimmunology.

Recent grant support

  • NIH K01 Award
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society Research Grant
  • Melanoma Young Investigator Award
  • Diabetes Research Center Pilot Project Grant.