Faculty Spotlight: Immunotherapy and the Brain with Jessica Foster, MD

Faculty Spotlight: Immunotherapy and the Brain with Jessica Foster, MD

Editor’s Note: Meet the dedicated and distinctive faculty who are discovering and developing pediatric life-changing solutions at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, in our monthly Faculty Spotlight series. This year, we're learning about the unique hobbies of our faculty that help them unwind and relax after working hard to improve pediatric health and care. In this Q&A, we meet Jessica Foster, MD, an assistant profession, physician, and scientist in the Division of Oncology. Stay tuned for more from our Faculty Spotlight series throughout the year. 

Why did you choose to focus on your research specialty?

I was drawn to pediatric oncology from a young age. I went to high school outside of Washington D.C. and volunteered at the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a residential “place like home” for families participating in NIH research. While I was moved by the patients I was meeting, I was also learning about the biology of cancer in my science class at the time, piquing an intellectual curiosity that only grew from there.

Can you tell us about a current or recent research project that you are excited about?

My research focuses on using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to treat aggressive brain and spinal cord tumors. I am most excited that several of these CAR T cell research projects may transition soon from the lab to clinical trials in patients. This has been my ultimate dream: to bring what we are working on in the lab to help the patients I am caring for in the clinic.

One focus in my lab is making CAR T cells using mRNA instead of a virus. As we work on bringing this to clinical trial, we are evaluating the best way to deliver these CAR T cells in the brain. In close collaboration with the Cell Based Therapy Lab, we are working to ensure these CAR T cells can be created on a large scale for a human trial.

What are the long-term research questions you hope to answer?

I hope to discover how we can successfully engage the immune system in the brain to bring lasting cures to patients. The brain has been difficult to tackle with immunotherapy; on one hand, it is considered an immune-privileged site, and on the other hand, inflammation from the immune system can cause significant toxicity. I aim to learn how to strike the right balance to achieve meaningful tumor regressions.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not working on research?

I have two amazing children who keep me smiling and on the go. Together with my husband, the four of us love to travel, hike, and ski. I am an avid Phillies fan, so we also love going to Citizens Bank Park. I am a part of a book club and a running club with other women in my neighborhood as well.

How do you balance your research work with your personal interests?

I am lucky to have a supportive nuclear and extended family. I get a lot of childcare help from my husband and my parents, which helps me focus on work while I am at work. I can then spend time with my children and enjoy my hobbies when I am not in the lab or the hospital. It is great to have something to look forward to outside of work, and it motivates me to work harder.