Ragon Institute

Lab Overview

The Garcia-Beltran Lab is devoted to fundamental and translational immunology. Our fundamental research focuses on defining the molecular pathways that govern target-cell recognition and killing by natural killer (NK) cells, critical first-line immune defenders against viral infections and cancer. In parallel, our translational research leverages synthetic biology and genome engineering to develop NK cell-based immune and cellular therapies for a broad range of human diseases.

In our laboratory, we use CRISPR-based genetic screens to identify regulators of target-cell susceptibility and resistance to NK-cell killing and to uncover molecular pathways that control NK-cell survival, migration, and effector functions. We incorporate these discoveries into rationally designed synthetic receptors and genome-engineering strategies to generate next-generation NK-cell therapies against hematologic and solid malignancies, with a particular emphasis on enhancing persistence, homing, tumor infiltration, antigen recognition, and cytotoxicity. These approaches are evaluated using complex in vitro systems and humanized mouse models. In parallel, we investigate how viruses including HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and mpox manipulate host-cell biology to evade NK-cell recognition and broader immune surveillance.