Research Assistant Professor, Pharmacology
Bio
Dr. Hoffmann studies the interaction between cancer and the immune system. His work has focused on identifying biomarkers and therapeutic targets, using machine learning analysis of tumor-immune interactions to aid in diagnostics and identify treatment response. Dr. Hoffmann joined Northwestern University as a postdoctoral fellow in 2017 and was appointed to the position of Research Assistant Professor in 2025.
Monitoring how a patient’s breast cancer is responding to treatment often requires complex and expensive imaging scans. This research is exploring a less invasive approach by using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze images from blood samples, looking for patterns that may reveal whether cancer is responding to therapy, spreading, or remaining in remission.
The study focuses on the relationship between circulating tumor cells—cancer cells that enter the bloodstream—and the body’s immune response. By applying machine learning to existing blood-based imaging data, this work aims to uncover new insights about how cancer cells interact with immune cells and identify markers that can help predict patient outcomes.
This approach could provide doctors with a faster, more accessible way to monitor treatment effectiveness and detect signs of cancer progression. Unlike other blood-based tests that focus only on tumor DNA, this technology captures information about both cancer cells and their surrounding immune environment, offering a more complete picture of a patient’s disease.
Andrew Hoffmann, PhD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Current
Early Investigator
Lamiaa El-Shennawy, PhD
Uptake of Tumor Extracellular Vesicles for Immune Regulation in TNBC
Current
Early Investigator
Frederick Howard, MD
Predicting Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Chicagoland Area Using Artificial Intelligence
Current
Early Investigator
Jeffrey Schneider, PhD
Breaking Barriers in Breast Cancer Therapy Through Individualized Immune Profiling
Why your gift matters
Your gift helps researchers test bold ideas, generate critical data, and take the first steps toward the next major advancement in breast cancer treatment and care.Together, we can accelerate discoveries that save lives.
