Genentech: Nathaniel West | Principal Scientist, Cancer Immunology, Research Biology

Scientists / Our Scientists

Years at Genentech

Awards & Honors

I joined the Cancer Immunology Department at Genentech in 2017 after completing post-doctoral work at the University of Oxford, UK, where I studied the inflammatory processes that underlie inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Prior to this, I trained in immune-oncology at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, with a focus on inflammation in breast cancer.

At Genentech, my team studies the complex mechanisms of communication that exist between immune and non-immune cells in tumors, with the goal of developing novel immunotherapies for cancer.

Featured Publication

Oncostatin M drives intestinal inflammation and predicts response to tumor necrosis factor-neutralizing therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Nature Medicine 23: 579–89.

2017. West NR, Hegazy AN, Owens BMJ, Bullers SJ, Linggi B, Buonocore S, Coccia M, Görtz D, This S, Stockenhuber K, Pott J, Friedrich M, Ryzhakov G, Baribaud F, Brodmerkel C, Cieluch C, Rahman N, Müller-Newen G, Owens R, Kühl A, Maloy KJ, Plevy SE, Oxford IBD Cohort Investigators, Keshav S, Travis SPL, and Powrie F.

View Abstract

The immune system employs an astonishingly complex system of cell-to-cell communication that coordinates host protection against pathogens and cancer, while limiting inappropriate activities that could cause inflammatory pathology or autoimmunity. Cytokines are particularly critical for the proper functioning of this system, and thus constitute an exciting area for biomedical research and drug development.

With the ultimate goal of developing new approaches for cancer immunotherapy, my team explores the basic biology of cytokines in anti-tumor immunity, how we can inhibit the activity of cytokines that restrain protective anti-tumor immune responses, and how to augment beneficial cytokine pathways. We believe that by integrating such strategies with other immunotherapy approaches (such as immune checkpoint blockade or cellular therapies), we can unlock the full tumor-fighting potential of the immune system and bring significant benefit to patients with a wide range of cancers.

University of Victoria and BC Cancer Agency, PhD – 2012
University of Victoria, B.Sc in Biology and Microbiology – 2007

Governor General’s Gold Medal (top PhD dissertation), University of Victoria – 2013
CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cancer Research Institute – 2012 - 2015

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Nathaniel West

Principal Scientist, Cancer Immunology, Research Biology

Featured Publication

Oncostatin M drives intestinal inflammation and predicts response to tumor necrosis factor-neutralizing therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.