Research in the Arnold lab is focused on Cancer Immunotherapy; the concept of harnessing the immune system to attack and eradicate cancer. Our research is studying the mechanisms which are exploited within the tumour microenvironment to suppress immune responses. Tumoral immune suppression is a major hurdle to permitting effective Cancer Immunotherapy in the clinic.

We currently have a particular interest in macrophages, a cell type which forms a significant portion of the tumour stroma, and which has been demonstrated to be immune suppressive in the context of cancer. My lab is currently studying these cells using both in vivo and in vitro models relating to breast cancer, alongside human tissue, to gain further insight into the role of these cells in tumoral immune suppression.

Our hope is that through furthering our understanding of how the tumour microenvironment can suppress immune responses, novel therapeutic targets can be identified to improve the efficacy of Cancer Immunotherapy in the clinic.