Terry J. Fry, MD
Photo: Terry Fry

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Elected 2017

Dr. Fry obtained his MD from Georgetown University followed by a pediatric residency and chief residency at Georgetown University Hospital. He subsequently completed pediatric hematology and oncology fellowship training at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Fry began his research training in T cell homeostasis and cancer immunotherapy as a post-doctoral fellow in laboratory of Dr. Crystal Mackall at the National Cancer Institute. After leading the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Program at Children’s National Medical Center Dr. Fry returned to the National Cancer Institute where he now leads the Hematologic Malignancies Section (HMS) in the Pediatric Oncology Branch and directs a translational research program focused on development of novel immunotherapeutics for pediatric leukemia. He has conducted seminal mechanistic studies of immune reconstitution and graft versus leukemia effects following HSCT. More recently, his research program has an increase focus on the use of cell-based immunotherapy for pediatric leukemia. He is principal investigator on a first-in human clinical trial using a novel CD22-targeted chimeric antigen receptor that has induced remissions in 75% of patients with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). His laboratory has developed two novel CAR constructs that will soon enter clinical trials including a CD19/CD22 bispecific CAR as well as a CAR targeting TSLPR, an oncogene in B cell-ALL. In addition to direct translational research, efforts in Dr. Fry’s laboratory are focused on studying immune biology associated with CAR T cell immunotherapy and mechanisms of leukemia resistance. The overarching goal of these basic and translational efforts are to improve the response rate and durability of remissions in children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Ongoing work is also focused on the development of CAR T cells for pediatric T cell ALL and acute myelogenous leukemia. Dr. Fry holds leadership positions in the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium and the Children’s Oncology Group.