Their Story

Dr. Lohinai’s career began as a PhD student in the Tumor Biology Program at the National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology – Semmelweis University, Budapest, the largest lung cancer center in Hungary. During these years, Dr. Lohinai gained organizational skills through biobanking and collections of blood, tumor, sputum and other samples, including pleural effusions for translational research purposes.

Dr. Lohinai completed his research project (ESMO Translational Research Grant: “The role of blood and lymph vessels in malignant pleural mesothelioma: From biology to therapy”), at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Medical University of Vienna, gaining clinical and laboratory skills. Additionally, he was a visiting researcher at the University of Colorado, where he was exposed to cutting-edge translational thoracic oncology research on biomarker analysis. During his time as a visiting researcher, Dr. Lohinai observed Phase I/II clinical trials including mainly immunotherapy administration for lung and other cancer patients under the supervision of Dr. Glen Weiss, a clinical trial expert in Phoenix, AZ.

Grants Awarded

2017 LCFA/BMS/IASLC Young Investigator

Evaluation of new biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with immunotherapy
“Interaction of immunotherapy with the mycobiome in lung adenocarcinoma.”

About the LCFA-Funded Research

Research plan for LCFA-BMS/IASLC grant

Dr. Lohinai’s project will evaluate the interaction of bacteria, fungi and other organisms (collectively known as the microbiome) that normally live in the body (primarily in the GI tract) and lung cancer patients’ responses to immunotherapy. Current research might identify microbial and genetic factors that will help in selecting patients that are likely to benefit from immunotherapy.

Microbiome Research