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Michael Brown

Assistant Professor in Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology

Overview


Dr. Brown’s research focuses on leveraging intratumor innate immunity for cancer immunotherapy, particularly in the context of malignant brain tumors. Dr. Brown's lab uses mouse cancer models, ex vivo human tumor slice culture assays, and clinical trial associated specimens to decode mechanisms by which intratumor innate immune cells control cancer immune surveillance and develop novel in situ vaccine approaches that engage endogenous antitumor T cells. The Brown lab also collaborates with clinicians and other research groups to facilitate the translation of novel therapies, define determinants of successful immunotherapy, and elucidate mechanisms explaining immune dysfunction in patients with cancer.  

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor in Neurosurgery · 2022 - Present Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, Neurosurgery
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2023 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

Recent Publications


Transition from acute to chronic low back pain in a community-based cohort.

Journal Article J Pain · January 2025 The transition from acute to chronic low back pain (LBP) in community settings is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of recruitment and estimate the transition and continuation of chronic LBP. We also explored char ... Full text Link to item Cite

Taking the STING out of radiotherapy: STING checkpoints mediate radiation resistance.

Journal Article J Clin Invest · December 2, 2024 The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase/stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS/STING) pathway is a critical driver of type I interferon (IFN-I) and antitumor CD8+ T cell responses after radiotherapy (RT). In this issue of the JCI, two reports describe mechanisms that re ... Full text Link to item Cite

Peripheral Blood IFN Responses to Toll-Like Receptor 1/2 Signaling Associate with Longer Survival in Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treated with Sipuleucel-T.

Journal Article Cancer Res Commun · October 1, 2024 UNLABELLED: Mounting evidence links systemic innate immunity with cancer immune surveillance. In advanced metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), Black patients have been found to have increased inflammatory markers and longer survival aft ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Epigenetic Programming of T Cells for Enhanced Cellular Immunotherapy

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Role of ATRX deficiency as a determinant of topoisomerase 1 inhibitor sensitivity in high grade gliomas

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2025 - 2028

Biomarkers to Advance Clinical Phenotypes of Low Back Pain (BACk)

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University · 2016 Ph.D.