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Craig Slingluff

Slingluff, Craig L.

Primary Appointment

Surgery

Education

  • BA, Echols Scholar, University of Virginia
  • MD, Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
  • Fellowship, Surgical Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
  • Resident, Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC

Contact Information

I have 30 years of experience as an independent investigator as a translational immunologist, surgical oncologist, and clinical trialist. My research in cancer immunology and immunotherapy includes laboratory studies and clinical trials that are broadly relevant to development and testing of therapeutic vaccines. After initial studies defining human melanoma antigens recognized by T cells, my focus has primarily been on developing cancer vaccines and combination immunotherapy. I have designed and run more than 25 investigator-initiated clinical trials testing cancer vaccines, targeted therapies, intraoperative imaging, and surgical technology. My primary clinical target is melanoma, though our team has also tested novel immunotherapy for other cancers. Our studies have identified promising clinical and immunologic outcomes with peptide vaccines, and have enhanced understanding of optimal vaccine adjuvants and the effects of those adjuvants on the vaccine site microenvironment. The impact of cancer vaccines and other immune therapies depends on the ability of T cells to infiltrate melanoma metastases and to function there. Thus, we also have identified critical roles of chemokines and integrins for T cell homing and retention as well as genes associated with lack of immune infiltration. Recent work has also characterized the heterogeneity of tertiary lymphoid structures in melanomas and their clinical implications. We are pursuing clinical trials of immune therapies that may modulate the tumor microenvironment to support antigen-directed tumor control. I have mentored over 30 postdoctoral fellows, 36 students, and many junior faculty.
PO Box 800709
Clinics Building 4593, Charlottesville VA
Telephone: cls8h@virginia.edu
Fax: 434-924-9311
Email: Jr MD
Website: 22908

Research Interests

Professor

Research Description

Melanoma immunobiology, Cancer Vaccines, Clinical Trials, Tumor microenvironment

Selected Publications