Description of Research Expertise

The focus of our lab’s research is at the intersection of immunology, metabolism, and brain tumor biology. The primary goal of our translational research is to understand mechanisms of immune evasion by primary malignant brain tumors and skull base tumors to generate novel immune-based therapies. We utilize a combination of high-dimensional single cell immune and genomic profiling, metabolomics, and advanced tumor organoid and mouse models, to 1) understand the role of myeloid derived suppressor cells in promoting tumor growth and T cell dysfunction, 2) elucidate the mechanisms of tumor-specific T cell exhaustion and clonal lineage of dysfunction T cells, and 3) understand how metabolic networks control immune cell function within the tumor microenvironment.

Selected Publications

Jackson, C., Chongsathidkiet, P., Koyama, S., Loebel, F., Cui, X., Farber, S. H., Woroniecka, K., Elsamadicy, A. A., Dechant, C. A., Kemeny, H. R., Sanchez-Perez, L., Cheema, T. A., Souders, N. C., Herndon, J. E., Coumans, J. V., Everitt, J. I., Nahed, B. V., Sampson, J. H., Gunn, M. D., Martuza, R. L., Dranoff, G., Curry, W. T., Fecci, P. E.: Sequestration of T cells in bone marrow in the setting of glioblastoma and other intracranial tumors Nat Med 24 (9): 1459-1468,2018.

Jackson, C., Tadokoro, K.S., Wang, E.W., Zenonos, G.A., Snyderman, C.H., Gardner, P.A.: Approach selection for resection of petroclival meningioma Neurosurgical Focus: Video 6 (2): 2022.

Jackson, C., Chan, Y.K., Stefko, S.T., Zenonos, G.A., Gardner, P.A.: Lateral orbitotomy for resection for resection of trigeminal schwannoma J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 83 (S01): S1-S270,2022.

Jackson, C., Kong, D.K., Gersey, Z.C., Wang, E.W., Zenonos, G., Snyderman, C.H., Gardner, P.A.: Contact endoscopy as a novel technique for intra-operative identification of normal pituitary gland and adenoma Neurosurgical Focus: Video 6 (1): V17,2022.

Jackson, C., Cherry, C., Bom, S., Zhang, H., Choi, J., Yegnasubramanian, V., Lim, M., Elisseeff, J., Pardoll, D.M.: Single cell RNA- sequencing identifies novel bone marrow derived myeloid cells in glioblastoma associated with tumor aggression Neurosurgery 67 (Supplement_1): 2020.

Medikonda, R., Choi, J., Pant, A., Saleh, L., Routkevitch, D., Tong, L., Belcaid, Z., Kim, Young H, Jackson, C.M., Jackson, C., Mathios, D., Xia, Y., Shah, P.P, Patel, K., Kim, T., Srivastava, S., Huq, S., Ehresman, J., Pennington, Z., Tyler, B., Brem, H., Lim, M.: Synergy between glutamate modulation and anti-programmed cell death protein 1 immunotherapy for glioblastoma J Neurosurg 136 (2): 378-388,2021.

Franke, J., Jackson, C., Lim, M.: Approach to patients with meningiomas Neuro-Oncology for the Clinical Neurologist : 2021.

Jackson, C., Vo C., Daniels, M., Chaichana, K.: Clinical Predictors of Tumor Recurrence after Pituitary Adenoma Resection Congress of Neurological Surgeons : 2019.

Jackson, C., Shah, P.P., Saleh, L., Gallia, G., Bettegowda, C., Weingart, J.D., Brem, H., Tamargo, R.J., Lim, M.: Anticoagulation for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after posterior fossa surgery: worth the risk? American Association of Neurological Surgeons : 2020.

Chan, H. Y., Choi, J., Jackson, C., Lim, M.: Combination immunotherapy strategies for glioblastoma J Neurooncol 151 (3): 375-391,2021.

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Academic Contact Information

Department of Neurosurgery
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
PCAM, 3400 Civic Center Blvd.
15-137, South Tower
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Patient appointments: 800-789-7366