Feeding Study Patient Recruitment
McQuade Laboratory
Jennifer McQuade, M.D.
Principle Investigator
Areas of Research
- Melanoma
- Skin Cancer
- Targeted Therapy
- Nutrition
- Immunotherapy
- Microbiome
The McQuade Laboratory studies how potentially modifiable host factors, such as diet and obesity, impact tumor biology, the gut microbiome, and immune response. We follow a model of reverse translation where clinical observations are made and then the underlying biology elucidated using preclinical models and patient biospecimens. Our ultimate goal is to improve the outcomes of cancer patients with novel interventions.
News & Media
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November 08, 2022
Dr. McQuade explains in a Washington Post article that eating fiber alters the gut microbiome which may boost immunotherapy
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October 06, 2022
Dr. Jennifer McQuade is named as 2022 Sabin Fellow
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July 26, 2022
Targeted Therapies in Oncology interviews Dr. Jennifer McQuade on emerging research in gut microbiome and its role in cancer therapy
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December 23, 2021
The McQuade team published an abstract in Science Magazine: “Dietary Fiber and Probiotics Influence the Gut Microbiome and Melanoma Immunotherapy Response”
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Oct 26, 2020
Dr. Jennifer McQuade gave an in depth presentation with the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC): "Diet, energy balance and the gut microbiome"
In 400 BC, Hippocrates acknowledged the power of food when he said “Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. This was an important shift in thought regarding food and its importance to well-being.
- Conquer Cancer Foundation/ASCO: Molecular, Immune and Clinical Significance of Obesity in Advanced Melanoma (2017)
- Melanoma Research Alliance Team Science Award: Diet, mental health, and the microbiome in response to immunotherapy (2018)
- The Elkins Foundation: Molecular, immune, and clinical significance of obesity in advanced melanoma (2018)
- Khalifa Foundation & Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nayhan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy (2019)
- Rising Tide Foundation: High fiber diet to enhance the microbiome in immunotherapy (2019)
- The Elkins Foundation: Molecular, immune, and clinical significance of obesity in advanced melanoma (2019)
- The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research: Controlled high-fiber dietary intervention to modulate gut microbiome in melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy (2020)
- The Seerave Foundation: Targeted dietary intervention in melanoma (2020)
- The MD Anderson Physician Scientist Program (2021)
- The Longenbaugh-Torian Fund: Prebiotic, the gut microbiome, and anti-tumor immunity (2021)
- ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award: The impact of interactions between adiposity and androgen signaling inhibition on outcomes in men with metastatic prostate cancer (2021, PI - Andrew Hahn)
- Prostate Cancer Foundation: The impact of body composition on resistance to androgen signaling inhibition (ASI) in men with localized high-risk prostate cancer. Mentor (Andrew Hahn PI) (2021)
- Department of the Army – USAMRAA: Delineating germline, tumor and extrinsic factors driving mucosal melanoma risk and response (2022)
- NIH/NCI, R01: Mechanism-Rooted Therapeutic Strategies for Immune-Related Toxicities Induced by Checkpoint Inhibitors (2023)
- American Cancer Society: Neoadjuvant Ipilimumab/nivolumab + Microbiota-directed Prebiotic Dietary Intervention to Optimize Immune Response in Melanoma (2024)
- NIH/NCI, R01: Prebiotic diet intervention to enhance the microbiome and immunotherapy response in melanoma (2024)
- Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT): Dietary intervention to modulate the microbiome and immune response (2024)
The McQuade Lab is looking for a talented post-doctoral fellow to join our lab to help examine the interaction between diet, microbiome, metabolism, immunity and treatment response at MD Anderson with our amazing multidisciplinary team and exceptional collaborations.