Amira Barkal
Personal Information
Born: Unknown
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
Oregon state University BS Biochemistry & Biophysics; Stanford University School of Medicine MD 2017, PhD Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine 2021
Professional Life
Field of Study: Medicine
Institution/Corporation: Stanford University; Brigham & women's Hospital; Pheast Therapeutics
Degrees & Memberships: None found
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 2022 Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award; 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 List; Ruth L. Kirschstein Fellowship of the National Cancer Institute; Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer Young Investigator Award; 2022 named 1 of the Women of Influence by silicon Valley Business Journal
Achievements: principal founder of Pheast Therapeutics, a cancer immunotherapy company; 73% of the scientists working there are female; with Irv Weissman discovered CD24 protein's role is to "signal" cancer cells from "being eaten" by macrophages (white blood cells)
became interested in cancer research after her grandmother was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, did not respond to treatment but entered a clinical trial that extended her life by 20 years
has 2 patents pending, 1st analysis of polymorphisms in sirp-alpha for evaluating response to immunotherapy & 2nd compositions & methods for inducing phagocytosis
discovered CD24 protein as part of her dissertation research