Abhishek Puthenveetil

I’m an immunologist exploring how immune cells sense and adapt to their physical and molecular environment within tumors. My scientific path began at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the US, where I worked on CAR T cell engineering and RNA interference pathways through an Indo-US fellowship. I later focused on macrophage polarization during my research internship, studying how signaling and microenvironmental cues drive inflammatory balance.

During my doctoral training in Israel, I investigated how mechanotransduction and calcium signaling orchestrate NK-cell activation and exhaustion. My work revealed that mechanical forces such as tumor stiffness can dynamically tune immune signaling and stratify exhaustion over time, offering new perspectives on how the tumor microenvironment shapes immunity.

At the Kennedy Institute, I am focusing on how tumors exclude cytotoxic lymphocytes over time and investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive this immune evasion. Outside the lab, I enjoy writing, journaling, and exploring creative ways to connect science with everyday life.