The Alinari Lab team at the OSUCCC – James, led by cancer research specialist and principal investigator Lapo Alinari, MD, PhD, focuses on developing groundbreaking treatments for lymphoma via cutting-edge technology, including CAR T-cell therapy and targeted therapies.
Through their studies and using a multidisciplinary approach to develop drugs for people with lymphoma, the world-renowned research specialists in the Alinari Lab have discovered and characterized the oncogenic function of transducin β-like protein 1X (TBL1X) in aggressive B-cell lymphomas.
By understanding these mechanisms, the Alinari Lab team has contributed to the development of a novel agent targeting TBL1X, called tegavivint, which is now offered as a novel therapeutic intervention to treat patients with lymphoma as part of a clinical trial at Ohio State (NCT05755087).
Additionally, in collaboration with Dr. Wing Keung Chan’s group, the Alinari Lab researchers have developed a first-in-class CAR T-cell product targeting CD74. This in-house manufactured, cell-based therapeutic has shown significant activity in several preclinical lymphoma models. The goal of this project is to translate the CAR T-cell product into a novel therapeutic intervention for people with lymphoma.
Mission
Inspired by the potential impact of their research on the lives of patients with lymphoma, the nationally and internationally recognized research experts in the Alinari Lab make it their mission to identify novel therapeutic targets and to develop novel therapeutic interventions to treat patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin disease.
Current Research and Studies
The Alinari Lab is primarily funded by two active National Cancer Institute R01s. The first one supports the work performed by the Alinari Lab scientists on the oncogenic characterization and targeting of TBL1X in aggressive B-cell lymphoma.
The second one supports the clinical development of a first-in-class CAR T-cell product simultaneously targeting CD19, CD20 and CD22 in patients with B-cell leukemia and lymphoma.
Who We Are
Dr. Alinari is a hematologist who specializes in treating and studying lymphoid malignancies. His research focuses on identifying novel therapeutic targets as well as on developing innovative preclinical and clinical treatment strategies for patients with lymphoma. Dr. Alinari’s passion comes from witnessing his preclinical research translated to therapies that may offer patients superior care and improved outcomes over current standard treatments.
His work has been patented and published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and he has presented his research at more than a dozen national and international conferences. He is actively involved in numerous organizations, including:
- the American Society of Hematology
- the Lymphoma Research Foundation
Lapo Alinari, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
Member, the OSUCCC – James Leukemia & Hematologic Research Program
Director, Hematology Tissue Bank Shared Resource
Associate Director, Ohio State Medical Scientist Training Program