immune cells

Canadian immunologist Ralph M. Steinman, who died on this day in 2011, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine that same year for his discovery of dendritic cells and their role in adaptive immunity. His death days before the announcement was unusual, as Nobel rules generally exclude posthumous awards, making his case a rare exception that still draws attention each year.

New coverage from Technology Networks examines efforts to design improved agonistic antibodies, drugs that activate immune-cell receptors to help the body attack tumours. The piece outlines how engineering strategies aim to enhance their potency and safety for cancer immunotherapy, a fast-growing field where several agonistic antibody candidates have struggled to show clinical benefit so far.