Laboratory Research

At the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, a Providence Center of Excellence for immuno-oncology and cellular therapy, we’re using laboratory research to unlock the power of the immune system to eliminate cancer. The breakthroughs our dedicated scientists make at the lab bench translate directly into clinical research – and to new therapies for our patients.

Our lab research happens in 14 dedicated labs:

  • Adoptive Cell Therapy
    The lab’s goal is to develop more effective T-cell-based immunotherapies designed to treat patients with cancers of the pancreas, gallbladder and other solid organs with epithelial tissue. 
  • Anti-Cancer Immune Response
    The lab studies the biology of tumor-reactive T-lymphocytes and how they interact with other cell types present in the tumor microenvironment.
  • Basic Immunology
    The lab’s goal is to understand the biology of the immune system in the context of cancer.
  • Biomedical Engineering
    The lab aims to develop biomaterials and cellular therapies for local administration of treatments that stimulate the immune system.
  • Cancer Immuno-Genomics
    The lab uses sequencing, mass spectrometry and other technologies to gain new insights into human health and disease.
  • Cancer Immunoprevention
    The lab focuses on the immune response to high-risk precancerous lesions and how immunotherapy may improve both early detection and prevention of cancer.
  • Cancer Immunotherapy
    The lab’s goal is to determine how immunotherapy with T-cell agonists, common gamma chain cytokines and immune checkpoint blockades synergize with other cancer therapies to boost T-cell function and cause tumor regression.
  • Computational Immuno-Oncology
    The lab develops and applies computational approaches to study the relationship between the immune system and cancer. 
  • Developmental Cancer Therapeutics
    The lab studies novel approaches to help patients’ immune systems fight their cancers.
  • Innate Immunology
    The lab’s focus is the discovery of novel inflammatory pathways in cancer that are targets for therapeutic intervention.
  • Integrated Therapies
    The lab studies the ability of cytotoxic therapy to provide large-scale cancer cell death in vivo, while modifying the profile of immune cells within the tumor. 
  • Molecular and Tumor Immunology
    The lab aims to develop new strategies to increase therapeutic potential and translate new findings into better therapies for patients with cancer.
  • Preclinical Cancer Therapy Laboratory
    The focus of this lab is to provide mechanistic insight into cancer development and metastasis.
  • Tumor Microenvironment
    The lab investigates radiation effects on the tumor microenvironment and how to use them to enhance the local and systemic effects of radiotherapy.

Our expert scientists lead talented investigative teams in preclinical and translational research. Lab leaders include:

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Making progress possible

With your support, together we can finish cancer.

At the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, we rely on the generosity of donors like you to support cancer research in immunotherapy. Your gifts help our researchers discover and develop medicines for all types of cancers – leading to more breakthroughs and saving more lives.

Clinical Trials

At the Providence Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, our clinical research team works directly with physicians to find trials appropriate for their patients’ specific stage of disease.

Find a Clinical Trial