Professor, Neurological Surgery
Bio
Dr. Irina V. Balyasnikova is a tenured Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University. Dr. Balyasnikova obtained her Ph.D. degree from the National Cardiology Research Center in Moscow, Russia. She subsequently received Postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Over the years, Dr. Balyasnikova has conducted her research at the University of Chicago and joined the Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University in the fall of 2015.
Dr. Balyasnikova is the author of more than 125 scientific papers and several patents, and her lab is currently funded by the NIH and several foundation grants. Dr. Balyasnikova’s research primarily focuses on developing novel targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches to treat malignant brain tumors. In particular, Dr. Balyasnikova is interested in developing and using fully humanized antibody-based constructs, including T cell engagers and CAR T cells targeting tumor-specific antigens to enhance immune-mediated killing and deliver therapeutics specifically to primary brain tumors and brain metastases of peripheral tumors.
A complementary focus of her laboratory is the application of advanced imaging strategies to monitor immune responses in the tumor microenvironment and to characterize the pharmacokinetics of engineered antibodies and cellular carriers in vivo. By integrating non-invasive imaging modalities with functional immunological readouts, her team aims to understand better understand the biodistribution, trafficking, and therapeutic efficacy of antibody- and cell-based delivery systems in both central nervous system and peripheral tumor models.
Her recent work demonstrates that fully humanized T cell engagers can achieve potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical models of glioblastoma and systemic malignancies, representing a promising translational strategy for patients with limited therapeutic options.
When triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) spreads to the brain, treatment options are extremely limited and patient outcomes are often poor. This research is developing a new type of immunotherapy that helps the body’s own immune system recognize and attack breast cancer cells that have spread to the brain.
The therapy uses an engineered molecule called a tri-specific T cell engager, which is designed to recognize two different markers found on TNBC brain metastases while simultaneously activating the patient’s immune system to kill the cancer cells. By targeting multiple markers at once, this approach aims to overcome one of the biggest challenges in treating metastatic cancer: the ability of cancer cells to evade treatment.
This research could lead to new clinical trials and provide a promising treatment option for patients with triple-negative breast cancer brain metastases. Beyond breast cancer, the findings may also help advance the development of targeted immunotherapies for other difficult-to-treat cancers that spread to the brain.
Irina V. Balyasnikova, PhD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Current
Senior Investigator
Chuan He, PhD
Refolding and Reactivation of Mutant p53 in Breast Cancer Therapy
Current
Senior Investigator
Dezheng Huo, PhD
Using Artificial Intelligence to Integrate Imaging and Genetic Markers for Personalized Breast Cancer Risk Prediction
Current
Senior Investigator
Seema Khan, MD
Optimizing Family Planning for Young Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer
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