Jonathan Bramson
Vice-Dean, Health Sciences, Research, Faculty of Health Sciences

Jonathan Bramson, PhD, is the Vice Dean, Research for the Faculty of Health Sciences and a Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University. He holds the John Bienenstock Chair in Molecular Medicine. His research is focused on the use of cells as drugs. Specifically, his lab is developing methods to manufacture white blood cell “drugs” that attack cancer. To optimize the anti-tumor activity of these white blood cell drugs, his research team is using a combination of genetic engineering, synthetic biology and chemical biology approaches to re-wire relevant signaling pathways within white blood cells to bolster their anti-tumour potency. The developed in the Bramson lab have gone from conception to first-in-human clinical testing in Canada and the USA. The Bramson lab's long-term goal is to increase accessibility of cell therapies for patients in need by reducing the cost of manufacturing and delivery.