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Ajay V. Maker, MD, FACS, FSSO
Professor of Surgery
Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology
Maurice Galante Distinguished Professor in Surgical Oncology
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tumors posing a significant challenge due to their complexity and resistance to conventional treatments. Despite advances in cancer therapy, effective strategies that harness the immune system's potential against these tumors are still evolving. Therefore, tumor immunology and early cancer detection are pivotal in developing these novel interventions. The Maker lab is dedicated to advancing the role of immunotherapy to treat melanoma, pancreatic, and metastatic colorectal cancer. His lab has pioneered the discovery of an immunostimulatory cytokine capable of activating the body’s immune system to mount a robust anti-tumor response. This approach is currently being explored in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors to achieve comprehensive tumor eradication of metastatic colorectal cancer. Additionally, his lab is working to develop novel biomarkers to predict the malignant potential of pancreatic lesions which can lead to the early treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Maker is a surgeon-scientist whose expertise lie in bridging basic immunology with clinical applications to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cancer patients.
Meet the team
Dr. Ajay Maker’s lab is home to a diverse group of experts, each offering a unique perspective and a shared commitment to collaboration, innovation, and discovery. Together, they are dedicated to developing novel treatments that can transform the lives of cancer patients.
Research
At the Maker Lab, we are dedicated to advancing cancer research through innovative approaches that harness the power of the immune system and cutting-edge technologies. Our work focuses on enhancing immune responses to combat cancer metastases and improving the early detection, risk stratification, and development of new therapies for various cancers—including colorectal liver metastases, pancreatic tumors, and melanoma. By combining bioinformatics, microsurgical techniques, novel mouse models and spatial transcriptomics, we aim to develop novel therapies and diagnostic tools that significantly improve patient outcomes.
We aim at improving the life of our patients by finding and testing new therapeutical and diagnostic strategies to tackle different types of cancer
Support our groundbreaking research in developing advanced, targeted therapies for cancer—your donation brings us closer to clinical trials and offers new hope to patients in need. Together, we can revolutionize treatment and make a life-changing impact.
