Matthew Krummel, PhD is the Chair of the UCSF ImmunoX Initiative and holds the Robert E. Smith Endowed Chair in Pathology. Krummel Lab specializes in using real-time imaging to launch hypotheses related to how the immune system processes information and makes decisions. Key discoveries have included determining features of T cell membrane biology and motility that govern how they efficiently survey for antigens as well as the discovery of archetypal collections of immune systems in cancer, notably those involving networks of cells built around conventional dendritic cells. His work spans scales from membrane organization, to cell biology, to entire immune systems.

Dr. Krummel drives collaborative science: he founded a microscopy ‘collaboratory’ at UCSF which unites ‘shared’ technical personnel and he developed a novel industry consortium-funded project which unites studies of over 15 cancer indications to understand the biology of individual patients. Together with other UCSF faculty, he founded the ImmunoX initiative, a radical collaboration platform focused on methods and data sharing as a means to accelerate discovery and cures. His initiative also emphasizes public outreach and interaction as a means to disseminate the value of science. Dr. Krummel’s work has led to numerous clinical advances including co-discovering anti-CTLA-4 ‘checkpoint blockade’ drugs (over 100,000 patients treated) and new next-generation therapies through Pionyr Immunotherapeutics, a biotechnology company that he founded. The aim of all of his research is to understand and apply the immune system to improve human health.