David Soto-Pajota

David received his BS in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus and his PhD in in Molecular Genetics & Genomics from Wake Forest School of Medicine. He completed a post-doctoral research fellowship with Dr. David D. Roberts in the Laboratory of Pathology at the NIH-National Cancer Institute, were he devoted his effort in understanding responses of ionizing radiation in normal tissue injury as well as establishing CD47 as cancer immunotherapy target. After his training he received the NCI Transition Career Development Award-K22 and began his independent career as an Assistant Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. As a faculty member he has obtained the Radiation Research Society Early Investigator Award, the Young Investigator Award from the METAvivor foundation among other recognitions. The research in his lab focuses on examining mechanism of immune cell metabolism to enhance responses to immunotherapy as well as the prevention of cancer therapy-related side effects. Dave’s research program serves as a platform to mentor students from diverse levels and backgrounds so they can continue to pursue careers in science.