Dr. Bally’s BC Cancer Research team is pursuing a hypothesis that combinations of immunogenic Cell Death (ICD)⁠—inducing drug candidates, enhanced by complexation with copper⁠—will significantly improve the therapeutic benefits obtained following treatment with immune check point inhibitors (CPIs).

The use of immune CPIs is viewed as “game changing,” as many cancer patients with different types of cancer are now exhibiting long-term responses as judged by survival. Sadly, however, the benefits are seen in only a small subset of patients.

Dr. Bally’s lab is hoping that the long-term survival rate for patients that receive immune CPIs can double through the implementation of strategies that involve combinations with small molecular weight compounds that change the tumour micro-environment to one that is more immune supportive.