My research focuses on developing novel immunotherapeutics and understanding the fundamental mechanisms that underpin anti-tumour immune responses. The rational development of novel immunotherapies requires an in-depth understanding of the complex interactions that occur between specific immune cell populations and tumour cells. These interactions underpin response, primary resistance and acquired resistance to tumour immunotherapy. To this end, my research focuses on the following areas:

1. Evaluation of novel innate-like T cell populations that mediate response to immunotherapy: Our group has extensive interest in evaluating the role of Mucosal-associated invariant t-cells (MAIT cells) cells within the tumour immune microenvironment. We also seek to investigate their role as key mediators of the intestinal microbiome's impact on anti-tumour immune responses.
2. Plasma TCR sequencing and evaluation of cfDNA signatures to understand response to immunotherapy in early-stage cancers: Our group is presently evaluating the potential utility of cfDNA-based approaches to monitoring response to immunotherapy including tumour-derived cfDNA, TCR sequencing and cfDNA-methylation. We ultimately seek to develop cfDNA-based assays as an important immunologic biomarker that may help to stratify patients with respect to likelihood of benefit from adjuvant immunotherapy as well as monitor potential response to these therapies.
3. Defining the tumour-myeloid axis as a key predictor of response and hyper-progression in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with a PD1 inhibitor: A major focus of our lab is understanding the role of specific factors in driving myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) proliferation as a mechanism of resistance to PD1/PDL1 inhibitors in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Sacher is a Thoracic Oncologist and Affiliate Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine & Immunology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Sacher completed his medical degree at the University of Toronto and residency at the Toronto General Hospital and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. He has subsequently completed a research fellowship in thoracic oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and holds a Master's degree in clinical trial design, genomics and drug development from Harvard Medical School. He has previously served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Attending Thoracic Oncologist at Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He has been awarded an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Career Development Award (CDA).

For a list of Dr. Sacher’s publications, please visit PubMed or Scopus.

• Staff Oncologist, Solid Tumor Oncology Program
• Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto