Dr. Bassiri has long been interested in the interplay between nonconventional lymphocytes (e.g. natural killer T cells or natural killer cells) and their contribution to anti-tumor immunity.

Recently, he and his lab team have focused their studies on elucidating the immunometabolic features of invariant natural killer T cells that may allow them to be used as a platform for cellular immunotherapy of high-risk pediatric solid tumors such as neuroblastoma.

Dr. Bassiri's current projects include directing natural killer T and natural killer cell anti-tumor responses, natural killer T cell immunometabolism and function, and altering the neuroblastoma immune environment to control tumor growth.

BA, University of Pennsylvania (Biology), 1991

PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Immunology), 2002

MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2004

Fellowship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Pediatric Infectious Diseases), 2010

Attending Physician

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2007-

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, 2007-

Clinical Immunology Society, 2008-

American Association of Pediatrics, 2011-

Eastern Society for Pediatric Research, 2014-

Pediatric Academic Societies, 2015-

Society for Pediatric Research, 2015-

American Association for Cancer Research, 2016-

American Association of Immunologists, 2016-

American Society of Hematology, 2016-

Teddy Bedrosian Compassionate Care Award, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2006

Clinical Immunology Society/Talecris Biotherapeutics
Fellowship Award, 2009

Clinical Immunology Society/Talecris Biotherapeutics Senior Fellow Award, 2010

Young Faculty Investigator finalist, Eastern Society for
Pediatric Research, 2014

Center for Childhood Cancer Research Profile