Marta Luksza, PhD
About Me
I am a computer scientist working on topics at the interface of evolutionary biology and immunology. We apply approaches from information theory, statistical mechanics and machine learning to understand how the immune system and other biophysical phenotypes affect the evolution of viruses and cancer. Understanding their evolutionary dynamics and ways of adaptation is crucial for the design of treatments and vaccine selection.
Previously, we have developed computational methods for inference of fitness effects from genetic, phenotypic and epidemiological data for predicting the evolution of the influenza virus. The model is currently used to consult the World Health Organization vaccine strain selection. We also proposed a predictive model for therapy response of tumors evolving under strong selection from the immunotherapy. These studies have laid the groundwork for investigating personalized neoantigen vaccines for patients with various cancer types.
We are looking for highly motivated students and postdocs to join our lab and conduct research in the area of cancer or virus evolution.
Language
English
Position
ADJUNCT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Oncological Sciences
Research Topics
Biophysics, Cancer, Computational Biology, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Influenza Virus, SARS Virus, Viruses and Virology
Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Medicine [AIET], Genetics and Genomic Sciences [GGS], Immunology [IMM]
Video
Education
PhD, Free University & Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics
PhD, Institute for Advanced Study
Awards
2024
Mount Sinai Junior Faculty Award
2023
Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research
2020
The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Clinical Research Award
2019
Pew Biomedical Scholar
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies, and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.
Dr. Luksza has not yet completed reporting of Industry relationships.
Mount Sinai’s faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.