Carl June Awarded Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science, Sees Greater Potential for AI and Immunotherapy [Exclusive Interview]

(Taipei, Zhang Xinyu, Philadelphia, June 16) American immunologist Carl H. June has been jointly awarded the 7th Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science for pioneering the clinical application of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in cancer treatment. In an interview, June said the honor was "immensely prestigious" and expressed confidence that "within the next 10 years, we will see new therapies emerge," calling it an exciting era full of opportunities for young scientists.

Carl H. June, along with Steven A. Rosenberg and Michel Sadelain, was honored for their discovery and development of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and CAR-T therapy, which have revolutionized the treatment of blood cancers and solid tumors. The trio shares the Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science.

Speaking from his office at the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, June said, "The Tang Prize carries great prestige, and this is a tremendous honor for me." He expressed both surprise and delight at receiving the award.

June reflected that research has been a long journey spanning decades. In the early days, his team had to figure out from scratch how to culture T cells and perform genetic modifications. At the time, CAR-T therapy was a radical departure from conventional cancer treatments, and due to past disappointments with cellular immunotherapies, securing funding was extremely difficult.

His team spent about 10 years mastering T-cell cultivation. In the 1990s, they began applying the technology to HIV research. Around 2000, they shifted focus to developing CAR-T therapy for leukemia. In 2010, they successfully treated the first leukemia patient using CAR-T therapy.

In addition to perseverance, June recalled that his work on bone marrow transplantation in the 1980s revealed the immune system’s potential to fight leukemia, planting the seed for his future work on CAR-T therapy—though bone marrow transplants at the time carried high toxicity and risk.

Despite skepticism from others, June remained convinced that one day patients could harness their own immune systems to combat disease.

He described the success of CAR-T therapy as a "transformative moment." "Seeing this technology spread across the world is truly exhilarating," he said, and praised the Tang Prize for highlighting the value of this research and its life-changing impact.

June expressed deep gratitude to his research collaborators and family, noting, "I’ve often been away from home, spending most of my time in the lab."

He hopes the award will inspire greater support for scientific research and attract more young scientists to the field.

"I believe artificial intelligence (AI) will accelerate research. In the next 10 years, we will undoubtedly see even more new treatment approaches emerge. For young researchers just entering this field, it’s truly an exciting time," he concluded. (Editors: Tang Pei-chun / Tien Jui-hua) 1150616

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