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Zachary Conrad Hartman

Associate Professor in Surgery
Surgery, Surgical Sciences
Box 2606 Med Ctr, Durham, NC 27710
Research Drive, Msrbi Rm 414, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


My research interests encompass studies of immunity and inflammation in the context of developing and established cancers. These research interests involve studies of inflammation in the genesis and maintenance of specific cancer types (principally breast and ovarian), as well as the impact of inflammation on tumor metastasis and the tumor microenvironment.  My group is also involved in strategies to modulate the immune response to tumors, which involves the use of novel immunotherapeutic strategies and development of vaccines to specific oncogenic targets.  The major focus of my lab is in uncovering strategies to modulate tumor-derived inflammation and tumor-specific immunity that will translate into clinically efficacious therapies in patients.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor in Surgery · 2023 - Present Surgery, Surgical Sciences, Surgery
Associate Professor in Pathology · 2022 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Associate Professor in Integrative Immunobiology · 2023 - Present Integrative Immunobiology, Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2020 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published May 9, 2023
Coffee Talk: Immunology and Breast Cancer
Published January 31, 2023
Duke Researchers use mRNA Vaccine Technology to Work on Cancer Vaccine
Published June 27, 2022
Clinical trial begins for Duke breast cancer vaccine.

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Recent Publications


Effective extracellular payload release and immunomodulatory interactions govern the therapeutic effect of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd).

Journal Article Nat Commun · April 2, 2025 Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER2, exhibiting significant clinical efficacy in breast cancer (BC) with varying HER2 expression, including HER2-low and HER2-ultralow. However, the precise mechanism underlying ... Full text Link to item Cite

Progesterone receptor-dependent downregulation of MHC class I promotes tumor immune evasion and growth in breast cancer.

Journal Article J Immunother Cancer · March 18, 2025 BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) continues to be a major health concern with 250,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the USA, 75% of which are hormone receptor positive (HR+), expressing estrogen receptor alpha (ER) and/or the progesterone receptor (PR). Alt ... Full text Link to item Cite

Vaccines targeting ESR1 activating mutations elicit anti-tumor immune responses and suppress estrogen signaling in therapy resistant ER+ breast cancer.

Journal Article Hum Vaccin Immunother · December 31, 2024 ER+ breast cancers (BC) are characterized by the elevated expression and signaling of estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1), which renders them sensitive to anti-endocrine therapy. While these therapies are clinically effective, prolonged treatment inevitably res ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


The Duke Preparing Research scholars In bioMEdical sciences (PRIME): Cancer Research Program

ResearchPreceptor · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2023 - 2028

Targeting dormancy-associated immune tolerance to eliminate residual breast cancer

ResearchMentor · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2025 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University · 2006 Ph.D.