Overview
- Speaking at the Karolinska Institute on Dec. 7, Shimon Sakaguchi detailed how regulatory T cells enforce immune tolerance and how that biology now informs therapeutic design.
- He said clinical use is now feasible and outlined strategies to increase Treg function for autoimmune disease, allergies, and safer organ transplantation.
- He also explained that inhibiting Treg activity could amplify anti-tumor immunity for cancer treatment.
- He indicated that RegCell, his California startup, plans a first human study next year for an autoimmune condition, emphasizing cautious, stepwise testing.
- He traced a 40-year research journey from early work at the Aichi Cancer Center and closed by thanking his wife and colleagues as the audience stood in applause.